From Spolia to Collections in the Roman Renaissance

Abstract

This paper considers the emergence of antiquity collections in renaissance Rome against the backdrop of medieval traditions of spoliation. It analyses in particular the contributions of Salvatore Settis and Kathleen Wren Christian to our understanding of the political and social functions of collections, and their relations to earlier forms of display. The paper also examines the connections between renaissance collections and wider concerns about the preservation of the ancient city, the display of Christian antiquities, and other collections elsewhere on the Italian peninsula.

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