Dr. Mark Rosen, associate dean of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Arts and Humanities, has been elected president of the Italian Art Society, an academic group that organizes and encourages the study of Italian art.
Rosen, an associate professor of art history and aesthetic studies, examines the relationship between art and cartography in early modern Europe as well as Italian art from the late Middle Ages through the middle of the 17th century.
“This is the era of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello and Raphael — once considered at the very center of all art history and the first era to fuse classicism and modernity,” Rosen said. “But as the field has necessarily expanded to think about global patterns, non-European traditions, and the economics of art, teaching and studying those artists is newly challenging and exciting.”
The Italian Art Society has a membership of more than 350 established and emerging scholars, graduate students and museum professionals. It promotes scholarly exchange through lectures and conferences on topics such as medieval studies, the Renaissance and architectural history. It also hosts lectures and awards travel and research grants to member scholars.
During his two-year tenure as president, Rosen said he hopes to arrange an Italian art conference at UT Dallas.
“This society is great for connecting scholars who are studying Italian art, whether ancient Rome, the Baroque, Futurism, or Arte Povera. It’s an honor to lead it,” he said. “It’s also a tremendous opportunity to get the word out about UT Dallas and all the good things happening here and through the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History,” where Rosen is a scholar.