Sonia Maffei

Sonia Maffei is an Associate Professor of History of Art Criticism at the University of Pisa since 2015, after serving at the University of Bergamo (2005-2015). Her research focuses on Renaissance art historiography, iconography, and IT methodologies for cultural heritage, particularly XML/TEI databases (e.g., online Vasari database, Corpus Informatico Belloriano). She explores classical reception in Renaissance art, symbolic language sources, and editorial projects like Cesare Ripa's Iconologia and Vincenzo Cartari's works.

Her publications include studies on 16th-18th century classical model reception, such as analyses of Luciano di Samosata's Descrizioni di opere d'arte (1994) and Paolo Giovio's Scritti d'arte (1999). Recent projects include directing the Limes Laboratory (2018) and co-founding digital archives like Le voci del marmo. She has received grants like the ITALY® – Azione Giovani in Ricerca (2013) and leads international PhD programs, including the Pegaso PhD in Art History (Florence, Siena, Pisa).

Scientific Awards:

• Ordinary advisor, Istituto Nazionale di Studi sul Rinascimento
• Research advisor, ITALY® grant (2013)

Research Trends: Her 15 most recent articles (1993-2021) span Renaissance iconography, classical model reception, and digital methodologies applied to art history. Topics include Boccaccio’s Genealogia deorum, Lorenzo Pignoria’s Immagini de gli dei indiani, and collaborative projects like Monumenta Rariora on antique sculpture reception.

Editorial & Institutional Roles:

• Co-director of journal Fontes (2018)
• Director of book series Imagines agentes (2007–), Antiquaria (2009–), and Mousai (2016–)
• Principal investigator for PRIN and FIRB research grants (2006–2016)