The Renaissance in Turin and the Duchy of Savoy through the Lens of Domenico della Rovere

This lecture delves into the patronage of Cardinal Domenico della Rovere, who singlehandedly sponsored the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in Turin between 1490-1498. It considers the ‘central Italian’ style of the cathedral in the context of the visual culture of fifteenth-century Rome and Florence, as well as in relation to the history, and visual and civic identity of Turin. The presentation aims to reframe the discussion of Domenico’s commission and of the della Rovere family at large, and to argue that it is impossible to understand the patronage of this dynasty—indeed, of any major dynasty in Renaissance Italy—without considering it within a complex network of geographical, cultural, and political relations.

Matteo Chirumbolo has recently submitted his PhD thesis on the Patronage of Girolamo Basso (1435?-1507) and Domenico della Rovere (1442-1501) at The Courtauld Institute of Art and is an Associate Scholar of the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz—MPI. He is currently co-editing a volume dedicated to the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, scheduled for publication in 2025, and collaborates regularly with museums and private galleries across the UK and Italy.

All welcome- this seminar is free to attend, but booking is required.