Painting in Fifteenth-Century Italy: This Splendid and Noble Art. An illustrated Presentation and Book Signing by Diane Cole Ahl, Arthur J. ’55 and Barbara S. Rothkopf Professor Emerita of Art History

In this illustrated presentation, Dr. Diane Cole Ahl will introduce the groundbreaking approaches of Painting in Fifteenth-Century Italy: This Splendid and Noble Art (Yale University Press, 2023). Dr. Ahl reappraises the careers and collaborations of fifteenth-century painters, many of whom are little known today. With greater frequency than has previously been imagined, these masters traveled extensively, with consequences for their works and the places they visited. She concludes the talk by emphasizing the importance of diverse materials and techniques, which too often have been eclipsed by discussions of perspective and optical theory. New findings by conservators and her own observations from the scaffolding of restoration sites identify the novel techniques and precious materials of the century's paintings. A reception and book signing will follow the lecture.