CFP: RSA-Session ‘Artists in Habits’ (Berlin, 26-28 March 2015)

RSA-Session ‘Artists in Habits’ 
Berlin, 26-28 March 2015
Deadline: 10 June 2014

This panel seeks papers that explore the dual identities of artists who were members of a religious order. More than fifteen years since seminal studies on the “frate-dipintore” by William Hood and Megan Holmes, on Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi respectively, we ask how scholarship on monastic-artistic occupations has evolved.

Are we closer to understanding if, and if so how, these artist’s personal piety or theological training informed their painterly approach? Did their allegiance to a specific order give rise to iconographies reflecting the spirituality of that order? Is there evidence that they were sought by patrons specifically because of their spiritual ‘purity’? Did their status allow access to religious spaces that ordinary artists could not enter? How did religious institutions make use of the talents of their artist members? And overall, is this even a valid area of enquiry?

The panel invites proposals from scholars wishing to re-address canonical monastic artists as well as those who hope to shine a light on lesser known monk/friar/nun artists.

Please send an abstract (150 words) and a CV (1 page) by June 10 to Joost Joustra (Courtauld Institute of Art, joost.joustra@courtauld.ac.uk) and Laura Llewellyn (Courtauld Institute of Art, laura.llewellyn@courtauld.ac.uk)