Christine’s pro tip:
“Make a plan, but be flexible! You never know what you’ll find and you may discover something that completely changes how you think about your project -- embrace that!”
Christine studies the revival of Egyptian antiquity in Renaissance Florence. She analyzes the Egyptian antiquities found throughout the city, the artworks made during the Renaissance that evoke ancient Egypt, and the intellectual culture around it.
What libraries, archives, or sites do you plan to visit in summer 2025 for your research?
I plan to visit depositories such as the State Archives of Florence, the Uffizi Galleries’ Library and Archives, the Berenson Library, and the Dutch Institute. I will visit sites like the National Archaeological Museum, the historic city hall of Florence, the Cathedral Museum, and the numerous churches throughout the city.
What documents/artifacts are you hoping to examine during this archival research?
I hope to examine extant copies of scholarly texts written in Italian and Latin on ancient Egypt, the sarcophagi and tablets in the museum collections, and the obelisks in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella.
Are you receiving any research funding or grants for your summer work?
Yes. I received a departmental grant from the Kull Memorial Fund.
What makes the experience of doing archival or site-based research meaningful to you?
There is so much to be discovered when doing site-based research! I know of some sites and objects that I want to visit, but while in Florence this summer, I’m sure I will find so much evidence that I hadn’t known about before. When working with material culture, it’s so important to have first-hand experience with the objects. You get a good sense of its appearance, materials, and composition. Plus, you often observe details in person that you can’t see or fully appreciate on a computer screen.
