Felicia M. Else, Ph. D.
95 Lakeview Dr.
Gettysburg, PA 17325
felse@gettysburg.edu
Education:
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
Ph. D. in Art History, May 2003
Dissertation: "Water and Stone: Ammannati's Neptune Fountain as Public Ornament"
Advisor: William E. Wallace
M. A. in Art History, May 1994
Thesis: "Poetry in the Piazza della Signoria: an Analysis of Cellini's Perseus"
University of Dallas, Irving, Texas
B. A. in Art History with Foreign Language Concentration, June 1992
Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Teaching:
Associate Professor of Art History, Department of Art and Art History, Gettysburg College, PA
(Fall, 2010-present)
Assistant Professor of Art History, Visual Arts Department, Gettysburg College, PA
(Fall, 2004-Spring 2010)
Lecturer, Department of Art, Webster University, St. Louis (2003-2004)
Teaching Assistant, Washington University in St. Louis (1996-2002)
Publications:
The Politics of Water in the Art and Festivals of Medici Florence: From Neptune Fountain to Naumachia, under contract with Ashgate Publishing, forthcoming.
“Fountains of Wine and Water and the Refashioning of Urban Space in the 1565 Entrata of Florence” in Architectures of Festival: Fashioning and Re-Fashioning Urban and Courtly Space in Early Modern Europe, eds. J. R. Mulryne, Krista De Jonge and Richard Morris, Ashgate Publishing, forthcoming.
"Vasari, the River God and the Expression of Territorial Power under Duke Cosimo I de' Medici," Vasari in Cultural Context issue of Explorations in Renaissance Culture, 39.1 (Summer 2013), 71-84.
"Horses of a Different Colour: Marmo Mischio and Ammannati's Remarkable Chariot of Neptune," Sculpture Journal, vol. 21.1 (2012), 27-41.
"Globefish, Sturgeon and Trout: Duke Cosimo I de' Medici, Bachiacca and the Consuming Culture of Fish," Medicea. Rivista interdisciplinare di studi medicei, n. 9 (June, 2011), 20-29.
"Bartolomeo Ammannati: Moving Stones, Managing Waterways and Building an Empire for Duke Cosimo I de' Medici," The Sixteenth Century Journal, 42/2 (Summer 2011), 393-425.
"Controlling the Waters of Granducal Florence: a New Look at Stefano Bonsignori’s View of the City (1584)," Imago Mundi, vol 61:2 (June 2009), pp. 168-185.
“Ammanati’s Shield of Achilles: Making a Virtue out of Necessity,” SOURCE. Notes in the History of Art, xxviii/1 (Fall 2008), pp. 30-38.
“‘La maggior porcheria del mondo'—documents for Ammannati’s Neptune Fountain,” Burlington Magazine, 147 (July 2005), pp. 487-491.
“Giulio Ballino and the Florentine Corridoio,” Mapline, no. 92 (Winter 2000-01), pp. 1-5.
“Views of Rome: Monuments of Church and Empire,” Catalog entry for “Maps and Nations,” Mapline, no. 91 (Summer/Fall 2000), p. 16.
Biographies for Federico Barocci, Louis Leopold Boilly, Jan de Heem, Friedrich Johann Overbeck, Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, Rachel Ruysch, and Bernardo Strozzi for Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia Deluxe, 1998, CD-rom.
Reviews:
Review of Cesare S. Maffioli, La via delle acque (1500-1700). Appropriazione delle arti e trasformazione delle matematiche, Florence: Leo S. Olschki, 2010, for Renaissance Quarterly, 64/3 (Fall, 2011), 933-934.
Review of Loren Partridge, Art of Renaissance Florence: 1400-1600, Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009, for Sixteenth Century Journal, 42/1 (Spring 2011), 313-314.
Review of Raffaella Fabiani Giannetto, Medici Gardens: From Making to Design, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008, for Sixteenth Century Journal, 40/4 (Winter 2009), 1360-1361.
“Cartographic Treasures of the Newberry Library,” Newsletter of the Italian Art Society, XV, 2, Spring 2002.
Review of Antonella Astorri, La mercanzia a Firenze nella prima metà del Trecento. Il potere dei grandi mercanti, Florence: Leo S. Olschki Editore, 1998, for Sixteenth Century Journal, 30 (Winter 1999), pp. 1104-1105.
Conference Presentations:
“Colossal Failures: the Language of Derision and Large Size” accepted for session on“The Language of Fame and Failure in the Renaissance”, College Art Association Annual Meeting, 2016, Washington, DC.
Co-presenter with Kay Etheridge for “The College Curiosity Cabinet: Bringing the Renaissance to the Present” for session “Renaissance Now! A New England Renaissance Conference Discussion” sponsored by the New England Renaissance Conference, for the Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, 2016, Boston
“The Medici Court and the Challenges of Water in Florence,” Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, New York City, March, 2014
“Fountains of Wine and Water: Medici Power and Playfulness in the 1565 Entrata,” Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October, 2013
“The Neptune Fountain and the Entrata of 1565: the Transformation of Civic Space in Cosimo I de’ Medici’s Florence,” Joint Conference of the Society for European Festivals Research and PALATIUM, “Making Space for Festival, 1400-1700”, Venice, March 2013
"'Povero Ammannato': a Sculptor in the Shadow of Biancone," Seventh Quadrennial Italian Renaissance Sculpture Conference, Lawrence, KS, November, 2012
"The Story of Biancone: A Contested Block in a Contested Space, " Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, March, 2012
"Puffer Fish, Sturgeon and Trout: Duke Cosimo I de'Medici, Bachiacca and the Consuming Culture of Fish," Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, Fort Worth, TX, October, 2011
"Water Control, Maritime Power and Seafood in Ducal Florence," Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Venice, 2010
"Ammannati Losing His Marbles? The Challenges of Building for the Medici Ducal Court," Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, May, 2009
"Water Deities in the Age of Cosimo I de’ Medici," Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, 2009
"Horses of a Different Color: Marmo mischio and Ammannati's Remarkable Chariot of Neptune," Provo/Athens Italian Renaissance Sculture Conference, Memphis, 2008.
“The Paper Trail of Bartolomeo Ammannati, Court Sculptor and Architect,” Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Miami, 2007.
“Ammannati’s Neptune Fountain and the Shield of Achilles: Products of Divine Artistry in the Service of Ducal Florence,” American Association of Italian Studies Annual Conference, Genoa, May, 2006.
“Art, Cartography and Territorial Power in Ducal and Granducal Florence,” The Cambridge University History of Cartography Seminar Series, Cambridge University, UK, January 2006.
“The Neptune Fountain and the Shield of Achilles: Products of Divine Artistry in the Service of Ducal Florence.” Symposium, Exploring the History of Art, a Celebration Honoring Mark S. Weil, Washington University in St. Louis, 2005.
“Land and Sea: The Iconography of Water, Artifice and the Public Fountain in Granducal Florence.” Renaissance Society of Amercia Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK, 2005.
“Water and Stone: Ammannati's Neptune Fountain in Florence.” Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Toronto, 2003
“Savonarola and the Urban Landscape.” Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Scotsdale, 2002
“Water in the City: Ammannati's Neptune Fountain in Florence.” Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Chicago, 2001
“Territorial Currents: Waterways and River Gods in the Service of Cosimo I de' Medici.” College Art Association Annual Conference, Chicago, 2001
“The Execution of Savonarola as Public Spectacle.” Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, Toronto, 1998
“The Reception of Cellini's Perseus.” Graduate Student Symposium in Art History, University of Iowa, 1997
Conference Sessions Organized or Chaired
Co-organizer and Chair of “Renaissance Water II: Water in Triumph” Session, Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, New York City, March 2014
Co-organizer of “Renaissance Water I: Instrumental Uses of Water” and “Renaissance Water III: Reconceiving Water” Sessions, Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, New York City, March 2014
Organizer and Chair of "Public Art and Contested Spaces in Early Modern Italy" Sessions Sponsored by Italian Art Society: "Sacred and Communal Spaces: Pisa, Siena and Venice" and "Princely and Papal Power: Genoa, Lombardy and Rome", Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, March, 2012
Organizer of "Public Art and Contested Spaces in Early Modern Italy" Session Sponsored by Italian Art Society: "Machinations of Power in the Republic, Duchy and Beyond: Florence", Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, March, 2012
Organizer, "Frutti di mare: Renaissance Approaches to Marine Life, Maritime Power and the Bounties of the Sea," Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Venice, 2010
Co-organizer, "Art and the Demands of the Sixteenth-Century Italian Court," Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, May, 2009
Chair, "Authors and Editorial Practices in Cinquecento Italy," Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, 2009
Organizer and Chair, “Literature and Art: Medicean Court Culture in Ducal Florence,” American Association of Italian Studies Annual Conference, Genoa, May, 2006
Guest Lectures and Gallery Talks:
Recent Research in Italian Renaissance Art History, Presentation at Department of Art and Art History Colloquium, Gettysburg College, 2015
“The Reclining Pan in the Renaissance”, St. Louis Art Museum Special Session, Midwest Art History Society Meeting, St. Louis, 2014
“Water and the Medici: A Proposed Study of Art, Festivals and Politics”, Dumbarton Oaks, November, 2013
“The Piazza: A Stage for Renaissance Culture and Liberal Arts Learning”, Phi Beta Kappa Iota Chapter of Penn. Annual Banquet, Spring, 2013, Gettysburg College
"Art, Fish and Water Management in Medici Florence: Research Discoveries from a Private Collection in New York and the Italian Embassy in London," Friday Faculty Lunch Presentation, Gettysburg College, 2012
"Public Art in Renaissance Florence: Art Historical Research in the Piazza della Signoria", European Culture Week, Gettysburg College, 2010
“Frutti di mare: Interdisciplinary Research on Renaissance Art and Science,” joint presentation with Kay Etheridge, Friday Faculty Lunch Presentation, Gettysburg College, 2009
Keynote address, "Working in the Piazza: Art Historical Research from Student to Professional," Intercollegiate Art History Symposium, Susquehanna University, March, 2009
"The Art of Renaissance Florence," Alumni College, Gettysburg College, 2008
“The First Public Fountain of Early Modern Florence: An Ongoing Research Project,” Friday Faculty Lunch Presentation, Gettysburg College, 2006
“14th Century European Art: The Gothic Age,” Guest Lecture for Nancy Cushing-Daniels and Chris Fee, Books of Love, Tales of Sex: Unions of Man/Woman/God in the Middle Ages Course (English 310-A), Gettysburg College, Fall 2005.
“Water, Stone, Bronze: The First Public Fountain of Renaissance Florence.” Webster University Artist Lecture Series, September 19, 2003.
“Ammannati and the Renaissance Fountain.” St. Louis Art Museum Gallery Talk, May 8 and 9, 2003.
“Art and Architecture of Fifteenth-Century Florence.” Guest Lecture, Oct. 1, 2002 for Christine Johnson, "Two Renaissance Cities: Approaches to Early Modern Culture," Dept. of History, Washington University in St. Louis
Research Awards, Fellowships and Grants:
Research and Professional Development Grant (out-of-cycle) for “Images Fees for ‘Fountains of Wine and Water’ article”, Gettysburg College, 2013
Dumbarton Oaks One-Month Research Stipend, 2013
Rensselaer W. Lee Memorial Grant in Art History, Renaissance Society of America, 2013
Italian Art Society Research Grant, 2012
Research and Professional Development Grant for “Water and the Medici: An Interdisciplinary Study”, Gettysburg College, 2012-13
Research and Professional Development Grant for "The Medici and the Early Modern Festival: An Exploration of Art, Geography and the Politics of Water", Gettysburg College, 2011-12.
Research and Professional Development Grant for "Frutti di mare: the Fruits of the Sea in the Art and Consuming Culture of Medici Granducal Florence," Gettysburg College, 2008.
Research and Professional Development Grant for “Wonders of Nature in Ammannati’s Neptune Fountain in Florence,” Gettysburg College, 2006
Library Research Grant, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, 2002
J. B. Harley Research Fellowship, British Library, London, 2000
Andrew Mellon and Newberry Library Fellowship for “Maps and Nations: Discovering and Debating the Interaction Between Society and Cartography Seminar.” Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography, Newberry Library, Chicago, 1999
Andrew Mellon Dissertation Seminar Grant for “The Emergence of a Public Sphere in Early Modernity.” Washington University in St. Louis, 2002
Dean's Dissertation Fellowship, Washington University in St. Louis, 1999-2000
Andrew Mellon Dissertation Seminar Grant for “Producing and Consuming Culture in the Early Modern World.” Washington University in St. Louis, 2000
Graduate Student Research Award for presentation “Ammannati's Neptune Fountain in Florence: the Cultural Impact of Water and Public Space.” Graduate Student Symposium, Washington University in St. Louis,1999
Andrew Mellon Dissertation Seminar Grant for “Politics, Material Culture, and Intellectual Production in the Early Modern Period.” Washington University in St. Louis, 1998
Teaching Awards, Sponsorships and Programs
Participation in Senior Preview Day Faculty Panel, Gettysburg College, 2015
Faculty Sponsor for Joshua Poorman, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Grant, Gettysburg College, 2012-13
Presentation at Spring Workshop “Student Research in the 21st Century Classroom”, Johnson Center for Creative Teaching Learning, Gettysburg College, 2012
Co-recipient with Kay Etheridge, Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning Summer Fellowship for course "Wonders of Nature and Artifice: the Renaissance Quest for Knowledge", Gettysburg College, 2012
Mellon Curriculum Development Grant for lecture series "Where are they now? Art History Alums in the Field", Gettysburg College, 2012
Co-recipient with Kay Etheridge, Curriculum Development Grant, "Art and Science in the Renaissance", Gettysburg College, 2011
Participant in First-Year Seminar and First-Year Experience Pilot program for FYS 197 "Florence: Art, Money and Power in the Renaissance City", Gettysburg College, Fall 2010
Gettysburg College Order of Omega Faculty Award for Outstanding Professor in Theater/Arts, 2009
"The Renaissance Mind: The Interaction of Art, Science and Nature," (in collaboration with Kay Etheridge, Biology Dept.), Science, Technology, and Society Course Development Seminar, Gettysburg College, Fall 2009
Faculty Mentor for Gwendolyn Williams, "Carving Out Sacred Space: Celtic High Crosses", Mellon Summer Scholars Program, Gettysburg College, 2009
Gettysburg College Order of Omega Faculty Award for Outstanding Professor in Theater/Arts, 2008
Johnson Center for Creative Teaching Fellowship, Digitization Project for Arts of Ancient Greece and Rome, Gettysburg College, 2006
Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence, Washington University in St. Louis, 1996-97
Academic Standing Committee, Gettysburg College, appointed 2015-2017
Departmental Assessment Coordinator, Gettysburg College, 2015-16
Peer Reviewer for The Seventeenth Century journal, 2015
Academic Policy and Program Committee, appointed 2010-2011
Schmucker Art Gallery Advisory Committee, appointed 2009-2013
Faculty Governance Committee, Gettysburg College, appointed 2006-2009
Faculty Advisor, Operation Smile College Association, 2008-10
Leonard Bernstein Center for Artful Learning Advisory Council, appointed 2008-9
Strategic Planning Steering Committee, Gettysburg College, appointed 2005-2007.
Subcommittee on Invigorating Residential Life, 2006