Book Reading and Signing with Ramie Targoff

A reading and short conversation between Ramie Targoff and Christina Nielsen, William and Lia Poorvu Curator of the Collection and Exhibition Program at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Book signing to follow.

Ramie Targoff’s Renaissance Woman tells of the most remarkable woman of the Italian Renaissance: Vittoria Colonna, Marchesa of Pescara. Vittoria has long been celebrated by scholars of Michelangelo as the artist’s best friend—the two of them exchanged beautiful letters, poems, and works of art that bear witness to their intimacy. One of these works of art, a masterful drawing of the Pieta, is now part of the Gardner's collection. Vittoria was not only a critical political actor and negotiator but also the first woman to publish a book of poems in Italy, an event that launched a revolution for Italian women’s writing. Vittoria was, in short, at the very heart of what we celebrate when we think about sixteenth-century Italy; through her story the Renaissance comes to life.

Speaker:

Ramie Targoff, author of Renaissance Woman, Professor of English, Jehuda Reinharz Director of the Mandel Center for the Humanities, and Co-Chair of Italian Studies at Brandeis University.

Event admission is free, but registration is required.

Reserve Tickets

• Online, by clicking the TICKETS button above
• By calling the box office at 617 278 5156, Wednesday-Monday, 10 am-4 pm
• In person: Visit the Museum and purchase at the door, Wednesday-Monday, 11 am-4:30 pm

Get the Book

Copies of Renaissance Woman will be available for purchase in the Bertucci Education Studio as well as Gift at the Gardner. 

Members receive a special 20%-off discount on the book on the day of the event.