Medieval | Renaissance: A Dialogue on Early Italian Painting

McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, USA

September 2 to December 7, 2025

The transition from the Middle Ages to the early Renaissance in Italy was a period of seismic artistic transformation. New techniques, evolving patronage systems, and shifting concepts of authorship redefined the very nature of painting. Yet, the boundary between these eras remains a point of intense scholarly debate.

The exhibition Medieval | Renaissance challenges this disciplinary divide. Curated by specialists John Lansdowne and Stephanie C. Leone, this exhibition features nineteen rarely seen works from Florence’s historic Frascione Collection (est. 1893). From devotional icons to narrative portraits, these pieces—dating from the late thirteenth to early sixteenth centuries—occupy a liminal space that defies easy categorization.

Organized by the McMullen Museum, this exhibition is presented with generous support from Boston College and the Patrons of the McMullen Museum.