The Renaissance sculptor Donatello is currently in the spotlight, as three exhibits at major European Museums—in Florence, Berlin, and London—focus specifically on his art and achievements. Professor Coonin’s lecture will introduce the audience to this most important Italian Renaissance artist, give an overview of revelations from the exhibits, and share his latest research on Donatello. The talk will include new views of key sculptures.
Victor Coonin is Professor of Art History at Rhodes College and currently holds the Hohenberg Chair of Excellence at the University of Memphis. His book on the sculptor Donatello (2019) is the first scholarly monograph of the artist to appear in 25 years in English. His previous book on Michelangelo’s David (2014) was cited in the New York Times, as “the definitive recent history of the statue.” His dozens of essays and articles have been viewed thousands of times by scholars from 122 different countries on academia.edu. His scholarship is both scholarly and accessible to the general public, making this talk appealing to a wide audience.