The conference Fortune of the Baroque in the 20th century: openness towards modernity, exhibitions, museums, collections, market, connoisseurship between Europe and America represents the concluding event of the project Which Baroque? The Fortune of the Baroque in the Collections and Exhibitions of European and American Museums in the 20th Century, launched in 2021 as part of the Study Program on the Age and Culture of the Baroque by the Fondazione 1563 per l’Arte e la Cultura della Compagnia di San Paolo.

So far, the project has conducted research and organized seminars on the reception of figurative culture from the 17th and 18th centuries considering the transformation of museum arrangements, critical reflection, paths in artistic literature, the role of local exhibitions as well as major international exhibitions, and the reevaluation of the Baroque as a period that had previously been undervalued in the strategies of collecting and the art market. In a politically turbulent era that permeates the production of contemporary works of art with nationalistic propaganda as well as the function of testimonies from the past, the Baroque – increasingly seen as a metaphor for modernity – invites multifaceted interpretations on both sides of the Atlantic. In fact, the American context stands as fertile ground for disseminating influences from the Old Continent and experimenting with new collecting and museum approaches.

The conference welcomes proposals related to the following research topics, examined throughout the 20th century:

• fortunes of Baroque works and artists in European and American public and private collections
• figures of collectors, curators, dealers, critics, restorers and connoisseurs
• exhibition layouts and museum arrangements
• dialogues between baroque and contemporary art
• reception and interpretation of the Baroque by 20th century artists
• experiences in publishing and photography

We encourage consideration of significant female figures relevant to the conference themes.

Presentations will be limited to 20 minutes.

The conference will take place in Turin in May 2025.

Proposals will need to include: title and abstract (1,500 keystrokes at maximum), scientific curriculum vitae and author’s short bio-bibliographical profile.

Proposals can be submitted exclusively through the form available on the website of Fondazione 1563.

Proposals submitted by other means will not be considered.

Deadline for submission: October 30, 2024 (midnight Italian/CET).

Selected proposals will be announced no later than November 30, 2024.

Given the high number of applications received, the Scientific Committee of the Conference requires more time for evaluation. The selection results will be announced by December 31, 2024.