Daily Archives: 20 March 2014

Cockatoo Perched in Renaissance Painting Forces Rethink of History

“With its religious iconography and ornate throne, the 15th century painting Madonna della Vittoria seems a typical Italian Renaissance work – apart, that is, from the appearance of an Australasian cockatoo in the background.

The discovery of an animal more closely associated with suburban Sydney than Venice is leading historians into a rethink of early trading networks into Europe.

The painting, completed by Andrea Mantegna in 1496 and now hanging in the Louvre, clearly shows what appears to be a sulphur-crested cockatoo perched above Mary, mother of Jesus.”

Read more here: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/19/cockatoo-perched-in-renaissance-painting-forces-rethink-of-history

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore – Postgraduate/Postdoctoral Positions in Early Modern/Medieval European History

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, is seeking  scholars who might be interested in applying for one of these positions (PhD student or post-doctoral worker).

Applications should be made by the end of June, for scholarships to be taken up in January for PhD students, or at an agreed time for postdoctoral workers. Persons who are interested should consult Professor Andrea Nanetti before preparing an application. His e-mail address is: andrea.nanetti@ntu.edu.sg

Before contacting Professor Nanetti, prospective applicants should inform themselves about the project of which their work will form a part by accessing the following web site:

http://www.engineeringhistoricalmemory.com/archives/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2013-Nanetti-Cheong-Filippov.pdf

Information may also be obtained from Associate Chair of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Michael Walsh, who is in charge of this programme. His e-mail address is: mwalsh@ntu.edu.sg

The positions will be funded by the University. Applicants will therefore be competing against others from a wide range of disciplines.

The position or positions will be supported by the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang University (about 35,000 students), which offers a full range of Bachelor, Master and PhD programmes. Their graduate programmes in particular are an incubator for the development of creative ideas spanning disciplines. For general information on their graduate programmes, see:

http://www.adm.ntu.edu.sg/ProspectiveADM/GraduateProgrammes/Pages/overview.aspx

The necessary qualifications for both of these positions are as follows:

1. English as a first language
2. Demonstrated competence in the Italian language
3. An interest in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance in Europe, particularly in works of art and architecture that can be used to illustrate this period.

PhD students must spend at least half of each year at Nanyang University. Postdoctoral students will be expected to be resident at Nanyang University except for short periods of absence, such as holidays, attendance at conference and approved visits to other institutions.