Appel à contribution : RIHA Journal, « Collectionner l’art italien au Nord des Alpes, 1600-1800 »

Call for Papers : RIHA Journal invites submissions for a Special Issue on

« Collecting Italian Art North of the Alps 1600–1800 »

The Italian schools occupied central positions in early modern art collections, a tradition that continued through the 19th and 20th centuries. The primacy of Italian art became a cornerstone for museum practice as well as a founding principle for the nascent art history discipline. This issue takes a closer look at the beginning of this tradition in the 17^th and 18^th century. Since the 1960s (and before), scholars have taken an interest in the Grand Tours of princes, aristocrats and connoisseurs. More recent research has added to the picture by discussing the collecting activities of artists, architects, diplomats, dealers and scholars, and of women collectors and travellers. Further advances in the last few years have included investigations of the Italian art market(s), early modes of display, legal and illegal ways of export and curatorial strategies in the early princely collections and private museums. Although pictures and sculptures have been most in focus, scholars are also bringing these questions with a new interest to collections of the applied arts, prints and drawings (including architectural and decorative drawings)

The issue could include (but does not have to be restricted to) studies of individual collectors and collectors, primary and secondary art markets, the history and theory of display, the export and physical transportation of art, auctions, bequests, the supply of and demand for particular schools, changing attitudes to individual artists, the rise of the interest in the « primitivi », looting, copying, and the political and nation-building dimensions of collecting. 

Suitable submissions will be sent to two expert peer reviewers for blind review.

Articles should be no longer than 50 000 characters (including spaces) or 8 000 word, both measures including footnotes and captions. Up to 10 illustrations will be accepted.

Contributions in English, French, Italian or German are welcome.

Please follow the RIHA Journal Style Guide on the website of the RIHA Journal (http://www.riha-journal.org/about/for-authors/style-guide)

Deadline: 1 December 2013

Please send your contributions, including a 250-word abstract, to the editors at the address: linda.hinners@nationalmuseum.se.