Revealing and Concealing: Interactive Objects in Early Modern Italy, 1400–1600

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dc.contributor.advisorWolfthal, Dianeen_US
dc.creatorMao, Natashaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2019-05-17T18:33:24Zen_US
dc.date.available2021-05-01T05:01:09Zen_US
dc.date.created2019-05en_US
dc.date.issued2019-03-27en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2019en_US
dc.date.updated2019-05-17T18:33:24Zen_US
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation examines early modern Italian objects with movable mechanisms that require the viewer/user’s physical interaction including pop-up prints, deceptive drinking vessels, openable jewelry, mirrors, and cabinet of curiosities. It demonstrates that many artworks from this period acquired their meaning and value not solely through their visual aesthetics, but also from movable features that engaged their audience physically. Traditionally research in Italian art from 1400 to 1600 has focused on visual qualities. This dissertation instead examines the material aspect of art objects, that is, how they were touched and handled, using an object-based approach and the perspective of material culture studies to investigate social and cultural history. By exploring the gestures and movements involved in using interactive objects, I demonstrate that early modern art in Italy required considerably more physical interaction than scholars have previously acknowledged. Academic investigations along this line of inquiry have thus far focused on devotional objects, of which the majority of them came from the north of the Alps. This dissertation is the first to offer an examination of interactive objects across a wide range of contexts in Italy, including marriage, illicit sexuality, dining entertainment, and pursuit of knowledge and collecting. The first two chapters examine topics related to material reanimating of sensual experiences through interactive mechanisms. Chapter one explores objects within the context of marriage, where opening and closing specific containers symbolize accessing the female body and violation of virtues. Chapter two investigates objects related to illicit sexual desire, in particularly flap prints that reanimate the experience of encountering a courtesan in real life. Chapter three and four shift highlight and examine objects associated with intellectual pursuits, as many interactive objects provide “hands-on” learning experience. Chapter three analyzes deceptive drinking cups, whose interactive mechanisms are related to a renewed interest in Hellenistic technology and conviviality. Chapter four examines multi-compartmental cabinets, where retrieving secret drawers can be seen as the user-viewer’s desire to uncover knowledge hidden in the deepest recesses of nature. Ultimately, this dissertation advocates that object interaction should be considered a component in art historical examination of early modern art of Italy in the future.en_US
dc.embargo.terms2021-05-01en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationMao, Natasha. "Revealing and Concealing: Interactive Objects in Early Modern Italy, 1400–1600." (2019) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/105934">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/105934</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/105934en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectRenaissance Italyen_US
dc.subjectItalian arten_US
dc.subjectsensory experienceen_US
dc.subjectsecrecyen_US
dc.subjectmaterial cultureen_US
dc.subjectdecorative artsen_US
dc.subjectceramicsen_US
dc.subjectfurnitureen_US
dc.subjectearly modern Europeen_US
dc.subjectearly modern Italyen_US
dc.subjectcostume booksen_US
dc.subjectprintsen_US
dc.subjectdrawingsen_US
dc.subjecthistory of designen_US
dc.subjectmuseum studiesen_US
dc.titleRevealing and Concealing: Interactive Objects in Early Modern Italy, 1400–1600en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentArt Historyen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineHumanitiesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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