Lecture 05
A Shadow of Divine Perfection: Art of the Italian Renaissance & Baroque
Leonardo Da Vinci said, “a good painter has two main objects to paint: man and the intention of his soul.” What he called “intention,” we would call “emotion,” and the entire history of art has been an attempt to communicate it. We’ll explore how affective states were represented by some of the greatest artists of the period, including Giotto, Donatello, and Bernini.
DR. ROCKY RUGGIERO has been a professor of art and architectural history since 1999. With a BA from the College of the Holy Cross, and an MA from Syracuse University, he was awarded a prestigious Florence Fellowship in 1996. He completed his PhD in Art History & Visual Culture at the Univeristy of Exeter in the UK. In addition to lecturing for various American universities in Florence, Dr. Ruggiero has also starred in a variety of TV documentaries on the Italian Renaissance. Appearing as an expert witness for NBC News, he has also been featured in multiple series on the History Channel as well as a more recent NatGeo/NOVA program on Brunelleschi’s dome. After living in Florence for 20 years, Dr. Ruggiero now divides his time between the US and Italy, offering specialized lectures, educational webinars, and cultural events related to Italian art and architectural history. In Italy, Dr. Ruggiero frequently leads excursions and travel programs. To learn more, visit RockyRuggiero.com