Design in Rome: From Drawing to Object (1550-1850)
University Seminar organized by the Rijksmuseum x Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome
Dates: 4 September (Amsterdam), 5 October – 16 October (Rome), 13 November (Amsterdam)
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 seminar organized by the Rijksmuseum in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (KNIR) 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.
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.
Teaching Staff
This Seminar is taught by prof. em. Reinier Baarsen (Rijksmuseum and Leiden University), Dr. Alexander Dencher (Rijksmuseum), Dr. Laura Overpelt (KNIR), and guest lecturers.
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.
Programme
The seminar starts with a full-day meeting at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (4 September), followed by a twelve-day 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. At the end of 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. During the seminar in Rome, they will stay free of charge in shared rooms at the KNIR. Travel expenses to and from Rome will be reimbursed up to €100,- (or €125,- in case travel is by train) upon successful completion of the seminar. Meals and personal expenses are not included.
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 via e-mail, 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.
To apply for this course, please submit your application through our partner institution’s website. Click the link below to visit their application page. Once there, select the button “Register for a course” and follow the instructions to complete your application.
Contact
Dr. Alexander Dencher
Curator of Furniture and Drawings
Rijksmuseum
a.dencher@rijksmuseum.nl
Dr. Laura Overpelt
Director of Art History
Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (KNIR)
l.overpelt@knir.it
