Design in Rome: From Drawing to Object (1550-1850)

From:Fr 04-09-2026Until:Fr 13-11-2026

Giorgio Vasari famously stated in his ‘Lives of the Artists’ that drawing (‘disegno’) is the foundation of all forms of artistic expression. Although his ideas have profoundly influenced art history, they have rarely been applied to the field of the decorative arts. Yet this field has much to gain from the study of so-called design drawings. Often anonymous and functional in nature, these drawings typically fall outside traditional scholarship, which tends to focus on questions of authorship. By approaching design drawings as documents, working tools, and means of communication between designer, patron, and maker, their essential role in the creative process can be more fully understood. This KNIR/Rijksmuseum Seminar offers a unique opportunity for object-based research in both Amsterdam and Rome. Over the past decade, the Rijksmuseum has built an important collection of Italian design drawings, acquired through the Decorative Art Fund. This collection forms the primary material for the seminar. Participants will study a selection of drawings as the starting point for their individual research papers. The stay in Rome allows them to deepen their knowledge about Italian drawings and decorative arts, about practices, materials, and techniques, and about the context in which the selected drawings were created, used, and collected.

Target group

The Seminar is open to 10 selected 3rd year BA / (R)MA / PhD students from KNIR partner universities (University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Leiden University, Utrecht University, Radboud University, University of Groningen). This seminar is intended for students in art history, especially the early modern period. Students from other disciplines are welcome to send their application, if they can motivate proven affinity with and prior knowledge of the subject, and the usefulness of this seminar for their curriculum. Participants need to be enrolled at one of the partner universities for the whole duration of the Seminar.

Credits

The standard study load for this seminar is 5 EC (140 hours). Students who need 6 EC (168 hours) to fill up their curriculum (UvA/VU) will receive an extra assignment. They should communicate this with the instructor before the seminar starts. Each student should arrange with his/her home coordinator whether the seminar can be a part of the existing curriculum. After successful completion of the seminar, the KNIR provides a certificate mentioning study load and evaluation.

Teaching Method

The Seminar starts with a full-day meeting at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (4 September), followed by a stay at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (5-16 October 2026). In Rome, participants will attend lectures by specialists, visit museums and institutions, churches and other collections to place the Amsterdam drawings within their historical context. They will also conduct research in the Institute’s library for their final paper. During the stay, students will present their preliminary findings to their peers, KNIR staff, and invited guests to receive feedback for further development. The seminar concludes with a second meeting in Amsterdam (13 November), where participants will present the outcome of their research to each other and to the staff of the Rijksmuseum. Attendance at the study days in Amsterdam is mandatory in order to participate in the Rome programme.

Please note that the study day and excursions require flexibility regarding walking distances and standing for extended periods. Participants are also expected to adhere to the modesty rules of the (Catholic) churches and official institutions visited.

Costs

Participants will receive free tuition in both Amsterdam and Rome, as well as free lodging at the KNIR (5–16 Oct 2026). Entry fees for museums and other mandatory site visits during the course in Rome are also included. Travel expenses to and from Rome will be reimbursed up to €100 (or up to €125 in case of travel by train) upon successful completion of the seminar. Participants will be offered lunch on the introduction day in Amsterdam and a dinner in Rome. Other costs for local transportation and personal expenses are at the participants’ own expense.

Facilities in Rome

All participants will be housed free of charge at the Royal Netherlands Institute in shared bedrooms and bathrooms. They can make use of the communal living and dining space, kitchen with utilities, washing machine and wireless internet.

Application and admission

The selection of BA and (R)MA students is based on the positioning of the seminar in the student’s curriculum, motivation letter, and grades. The selection of PhD students is based on the letter of motivation and curriculum vitae. Applications can be sent in via the application form below, including:

A letter of motivation stating how this seminar will contribute to your curriculum/cv and how your prior knowledge can be of use to the group achievements (max. 1 A4)
A cv (max 2 A4)
For BA / (R)MA students: an up-to-date, official transcript of your grades

Deadline applications

21 June 2026

Candidates will be notified about the outcome within two weeks. Please note that the decision of the selection committee is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

More info

E-mail: secretary@knir.it
Phone: (+39)063269621

Coordinator

Dr. Laura Overpelt

Teaching staff

Prof. em. Reinier Baarsen, Dr. Alexander Dencher, Dr. Laura Overpelt; guest lecturers

Deadline Applications