The da Vinci Dialogues ft. Professor Robert Van Pelt

There Was No Renaissance

The conventional divide between the Middle Ages and Renaissance overlooks a more complicated story. This lecture presents Renaissance humanism as the culmination of medieval traditions of synthesis, as scholars sought to reconcile classical, Christian, Arabic, civic, and craft knowledge. Architecture made this confidence visible through works such as Brunelleschi’s San Lorenzo and Alberti’s theories, which brought together classical proportion, Christian ritual, medieval practice, and civic ambition. Yet as knowledge expanded, this project of synthesis became increasingly difficult to sustain, helping prepare the shift from Renaissance concord toward Reformation conflict.

Admission to this event includes admission to THEMUSEUM.

Adults: $21,99/ Students: $18,99/ 55 & better: $18,99 

Speaker Bio

Robert Jan van Pelt has taught at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture since 1987 and has held academic appointments at institutions across Europe, Asia, and North America. He is the author or co-author of thirteen books and has received numerous honors, including a National Jewish Book Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship. An internationally recognized authority on the history and architecture of Auschwitz, his work has contributed significantly to forensic architecture and the study of Holocaust history. He has served as an expert witness, consultant, curator, and advisor on major projects and exhibitions, including The Evidence Room, presented at the Venice Architecture Biennale.