Art is often associated with the controlled environment of today's museums—displayed under careful lighting, to be contemplated quietly and never touched. This, however, is misleading. These objects have had a much more dynamic, interactive, and even disorderly relationship with their historical viewers. In fact, maybe "viewers" is not even the appropriate word.

This seminar explores the vibrant lives of Renaissance art objects and the many ways people have acted upon them. From dressing venerated sculptures and adorning them with jewels, to scratching away the faces of "dangerous" images, art in Medieval and Renaissance Italy provoked viewers into becoming actors. We will discuss fascinating works of art such as "talking" statues in Rome, bedroom furniture that could set the mood for successful conception and healthy babies, and a variety of stolen objects repurposed and displayed publicly to proclaim new political ideologies. This course will provide historical context for the power of images and how they still act on us today.