Francesca Borgo

Francesca Borgo is an Assistant Professor in the School of Art History at the University of St Andrews and the Lise Meitner Research Group Leader at the Bibliotheca Hertziana. She specializes in early modern Southern European art history, particularly Renaissance Italy, with a focus on the intersection of visual, literary, and scientific culture, and the work of Leonardo da Vinci. Borgo holds a PhD from Harvard University (2017), preceded by studies at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the Universidad Complutense in Madrid.

Her research explores war representation in the Cinquecento and the perception of decaying artworks, supported by grants from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, Max Planck Society, and others. She has held fellowships at institutions including the Getty Research Institute and Villa I Tatti. Current projects include a book on art critical discourse around war and another on the Fragile Image in the Renaissance.

Professional memberships include the Leonardo da Vinci Society, Renaissance Society of America, and ICOM. Her teaching and curatorial work emphasize public engagement, bridging academic and community knowledge on art history.