Franco Mormando

Franco Mormando is a Professor of Italian and Department Chair in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at Boston College. He is also an Affiliate Faculty member in the Department of History. His academic career spans over four decades, marked by distinguished scholarship in Renaissance and Baroque art history, with a particular focus on Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Caravaggio, and the intersection of art and religion in early modern Europe.

Education includes a B.A. from Columbia University, M.Div. and S.T.L. from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. His research explores topics such as Bernini’s artistic legacy, plague imagery in Renaissance and Baroque art, and the role of preaching in early modern society.

Key research interests include Baroque sculpture and architecture, Counter-Reformation art, and the cultural history of Rome. Recent work has centered on Bernini’s painting collection, the social context of Renaissance preaching, and the impact of plague on artistic expression. Mormando’s book Bernini: His Life and His Rome (2011) is a landmark biography of the artist, while his edited volumes on plague art and Jesuit history further highlight his interdisciplinary approach.

His awards include the Ordine della Stella d'Italia (2005) and the Howard R. Marraro Prize (2001). Mormando has delivered lectures globally, including presentations on Bernini’s controversial works and the role of art in pandemic contexts. His academic contributions extend to editorial roles, book reviews, and curatorial projects, such as the Hope and Healing exhibition at the Worcester Art Museum.

He has advised numerous students and scholars in art history, though specific advisee names are not listed. Mormando’s work is associated with Boston College’s Jesuit Institute and the McMullen Museum of Art, reflecting his institutional engagement and scholarly collaborations.