Professor Donal Cooper, University Lecturer in Italian Renaissance Art and Fellow of Jesus College, specializes in sacred art and architecture in Italy and the Mediterranean from the 13th to the 16th centuries, with a strong emphasis on Franciscan patronage. His research, captured by Renaissance Art Digital Contexts Cambridge, extends into the application of digital media to reconstruct the original spatial and ritual settings of artworks, demonstrated through collaborative projects with institutions like the National Gallery. His influential work includes the award-winning study, The Making of Assisi: The Pope, the Franciscans and the Painting of the Basilica.
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Professor Donal Cooper, University Lecturer in Italian Renaissance Art: Renaissance Art Digital Contexts Cambridge Supervisor
- Fellow of Jesus College, University of Cambridge
Quick Profile Summary
| Detail | Content |
|---|---|
| Position | University Lecturer in Italian Renaissance Art |
| Affiliation | University of Cambridge; Fellow of Jesus College |
| Key Background | PhD (Courtauld Institute of Art), Research Department (V&A Museum), Associate Professor (Warwick) |
| Specialization | Italian Renaissance Sacred Art and Architecture (c. 1200-1550), Franciscan Patronage, Eastern Mediterranean Art |
| Core Focus | Reassessing major artworks (Giotto, Raphael, Titian) in light of their original spatial settings and ritual contexts. |
Introduction and Research Niche
Professor Donal Cooper is a distinguished historian of art and architecture, specializing in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean between ca. 1200 and ca. 1550. His research is defined by a deep commitment to understanding artworks not as isolated objects, but as integral components of their spatial settings and ritual contexts. This core interest extends to modern methodologies, making his work central to Renaissance Art Digital Contexts Cambridge.
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His primary historical focus is on the most influential religious orders of the age, particularly the Franciscans, whose dynamic patronage shaped some of Italy’s greatest artistic commissions, including the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi. He leverages both archival rigor and interdisciplinary collaboration to reconstruct the full experience of sacred spaces, a pursuit increasingly enhanced by the application of digital media.
Graduate Research Opportunities (For Prospective Students)
Professor Cooper welcomes applications from interdisciplinary PhD and MPhil students interested in European and Mediterranean art and architecture from the $13^{th}$ to the $16^{th}$ centuries. Research opportunities within his supervision fall broadly into the following three streams:
1. Research Stream: Franciscan Patronage and Sacred Architecture
This stream focuses on the art commissioned by the Franciscan order and other dynamic religious groups in central Italy. Research will examine how these commissions shaped major basilicas and friaries, utilizing archival and visual analysis.
- Topics: Franciscan art and architecture in central Italy (c. 1200–1550); the design, history, and painting cycles of the Basilica of San Francesco, Assisi; the works of Giotto, Raphael, and Titian for Franciscan contexts; the relationship between art and religious devotion in the Renaissance.
2. Research Stream: Art in the Mediterranean and Ritual Contexts
This area explores the art and architecture of territories under Latin (especially Venetian) control in the Eastern Mediterranean, focusing on cultural exchange and patronage outside of the Italian peninsula.
- Topics: Latin artistic patronage in Dalmatia, Crete, and other territories of the Venetian Stato da Mar; the recovery of original spatial settings and ritual contexts for Renaissance altarpieces and sculptures; the relationship between art, liturgy, and the structure of sacred spaces.
3. Interdisciplinary Focus: Digital Media and Renaissance Art Digital Contexts Cambridge
This methodology-focused stream investigates the use of modern technology to reconstruct and communicate historical environments, bridging Art History with Digital Humanities.
- Topics: Utilizing digital media and 3D modeling to recover and visualize the original installation and appearance of Renaissance altarpieces (e.g., collaboration with the National Gallery); methodologies for communicating historical contexts to modern audiences; the application of digital tools to architectural history.
Key Awards and Professional Roles
| Year | Award / Fellowship | Institution / Body |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Art Book Prize (Co-Author) | Association of Art Historians |
| 2009-10 | Hannah Kiel Fellowship | Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies, Villa I Tatti, Florence |
| 2006 | Philip Leverhulme Prize | Leverhulme Trust (for outstanding scholarship) |
| 2002-2005 | Research Department Contributor | V&A Museum (Medieval and Renaissance Galleries) |
Selected Publications
Monograph (2013): The Making of Assisi: The Pope, the Franciscans and the Painting of the Basilica (co-authored with J. Robson). Yale University Press.
Journal Article (N/A): Studies on Giotto’s Franciscan commissions.
Future Publication: Reassessment of works by Raphael and Titian for Franciscan churches in light of their spatial settings.
Project Contribution: Major contributor to the catalogue accompanying the Giotto e compagni exhibition (Louvre, 2013).
Doctoral Supervision: Co-supervises an AHRC-funded doctoral project (with the National Gallery) on reconstructing historic settings of Renaissance altarpieces.
Contact Information
Prospective students interested in supervision should reach out via the following channels:
| Detail | Content |
|---|---|
| Email Address | dac66@cam.ac.uk. |
| University Profile Page | Professor Donal Cooper’s University of Cambridge Profile |
Supervisory Ethos
Professor Cooper’s supervisory ethos emphasizes rigorous primary source research, intellectual independence, and the importance of interdisciplinary engagement. He encourages candidates to synthesize historical evidence with critical theory and, where appropriate, modern digital methodologies to conduct high-impact research. He guides students to frame their projects around answering fundamental questions about the function, patronage, and meaning of art within its original ritual and spatial environment. He seeks proactive candidates who are committed to transforming complex historical topics into clear, well-supported arguments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is Professor Cooper currently accepting new students?
Yes, Professor Cooper welcomes applications, though applicants should note he is on Research Leave until Michaelmas Term 2025. Early discussions are still encouraged for students planning to start after this date.
2. What is Professor Cooper’s primary geographical and temporal focus?
His primary focus is Southern Europe, particularly Italy, from the $13^{th}$ to the $16^{th}$ centuries (c. 1200–1550).
3. What is the significance of Franciscan patronage in his work?
The Franciscan order was one of the most dynamic patrons of art and architecture in the period. Professor Cooper’s research uses their commissions as a lens to understand major shifts in artistic style, devotional practice, and the design of sacred spaces.
4. What does the term “ritual contexts” mean in his research?
It refers to studying the artworks not just visually, but understanding how they were used, viewed, and interacted with during religious ceremonies, masses, and daily devotions within the church.
5. How does the AHRC-funded project with the National Gallery relate to his research?
This project is a key example of Renaissance Art Digital Contexts Cambridge. It uses digital reconstruction techniques to help recover the original, historic settings of altarpieces, which is vital for understanding their full meaning and impact.
6. Do I need a background in the Eastern Mediterranean or Dalmatia to apply?
No, but an interest in Latin artistic patronage in the former Venetian territories (Stato da Mar) of the Eastern Mediterranean is a strong advantage for certain projects.
7. What kind of prior qualifications does he look for in a candidate?
He primarily seeks candidates with strong academic backgrounds in Art History and History, with an aptitude for working with visual, architectural, and textual primary sources.
8. What is the book The Making of Assisi about?
Co-authored with Dr. Janet Robson, it is an in-depth study of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, examining the roles of the papacy and the Franciscan order in commissioning the monumental painting and architectural schemes.
9. What aspect of digital media is he interested in?
He focuses on the practical application of digital media to reconstruct and communicate the original, complex contexts of artworks and buildings, such as 3D visualization of lost architectural or altarpiece settings.
10. What should a prospective student emphasize in their research proposal?
Candidates should clearly articulate their research question, demonstrate a firm grasp of the existing literature, and explain how their proposed project fits within the study of spatial settings, ritual contexts, or Renaissance Art Digital Contexts Cambridge.
