Luther in Italy
Rome
23–25 February, 2017
The printing industry developed in mutual exchange with the Reformation. Luther’s ideas and actions deeply affected the book world. Theologians boosted the market with polemical works against or in favour of the former monk from Eisleben. This overwhelming book production inspired a call for an unprecedented, strict control over the printing press. To mark the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the year in which, according to tradition, Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Palace Church in Wittenberg, a conference in Rome will address the topic of the impact of the Reformation on the Italian book market.
Papers are invited on any aspects of the relationship between the Reformation and the book in Italy. They may include, but are not limited to:
- The rise of censorship in Counter-Reformation Italy
- The adjustments of the book trade
- Printing mobility as a contingency strategy
- Dissidence and nicodemism in print and visual arts
- The loss of works of banned authors
- Contemporary perceptions of Luther and his representation as a historical figure
- The development of modern propaganda
- The phenomenon of damnatio memoriae
Those interested in giving a paper should offer a title and a brief synopsis (300–500 words) of their proposed contribution. Proposals should be sent to Flavia Bruni at the address fb323@st-andrews.ac.uk by 31 May, 2016. To promote a genuinely international exchange between participants, proposals and papers must be in English. Italian and German abstracts will be provided at the conference. Travel costs will be reimbursed.
Organising Committee:
Andreea Badea, Deutsches Historisches Institut Rome; Flavia Bruni, Sapienza University of Rome – University of St Andrews; Margherita Palumbo, formerly Biblioteca Casanatense, Rome
Organised with the Biblioteca Casanatense, Ministero dei beni e delle attività culturali e del turismo.
