Recently we have learned that the civic squares of 14th century Florence were rationally constructed as perspective tableaus. But what happened elsewhere? Was perspectivism a universal planning technique, and if not, what were the alternatives? Were such urbanistic approaches isolated or part of the larger visual culture? And what actually happened afterward in the Renaissance, when perspectivism is usually thought to have originated? How far back in time can urbanistic perspectivism be traced?

This lecture is held in conjunction with the symposium Space and Place sponsored by the Society for Art History and Archaeology on October 23, 1999.

Sponsored by: Society for Art History and Archaeology

In conjunction with: Art History Program, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Lorado Taft Lectureship on Art, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, Department of History, Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion, Program on Ancient Technologies and Archeological Materials (ATAM), Program in South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, School of Architecture, School of Art and Design and Spurlock Museum