Villa I Tatti - The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies

Craig Hugh Smyth Visiting Fellowship

APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 15

Each year Villa I Tatti, The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies, offers a limited number of three-month Fellowships designed for scholars in any field of Italian Renaissance studies who do not have the benefit of sabbatical leave. This group includes curators, administrators, and conservators, as well as scholars who, having the primary responsibility of caring for young children, do not have easy access to major research libraries and research institutes.

The selection committee pays special attention to the candidate’s record of publications and need for research leave, the strength of the proposed project, and its potential to yield original results. The project must represent advanced research in the Italian Renaissance, broadly defined as the period ranging from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Subjects covered include the architecture, history, literature, material culture, music, philosophy, religion, science, or visual arts of Italy. Applications would also be welcomed from candidates working on the transmission and circulation of ideas, objects, and people during the Renaissance, into and beyond the Italian peninsula, or the historiography of the Italian Renaissance, including the rebirth of interest in the Renaissance in later periods. Museum professionals may apply to carry out research for a forthcoming exhibition or for the catalogue of permanent collections, but they can also apply for projects relating to their personal research interests.

Fellows will enjoy all the privileges of the Harvard Center, including use of the Biblioteca Berenson seven days a week and lunch with other I Tatti Appointees from Monday through Friday. Smyth Fellows do not receive an office or study, but they will have their own desk or carrel in the Library itself. As one of the goals of I Tatti is to establish an intellectual community in which a fruitful interchange of ideas can take place, applicants must be conversant in either English or Italian and able to understand both languages. Smyth Fellows are expected to live in the Florence area and spend at least three days a week at the Villa. The normal periods of residence are fall (September through December), winter (January through March), and spring (April through June). Applicants should indicate their preference.

The maximum stipend for the Craig Hugh Smyth Fellowship is $5,000 per month, plus a supplement (maximum $1,500) towards relocation expenses. When possible, a one-bedroom I Tatti apartment will be set aside for the Fellow’s use, rent free, but with charges for utilities. Visiting Fellowships at I Tatti can be held only once, and priority will be given to applicants with no previous association with the Harvard Center. Scholars awarded a Smyth Fellowship can apply for a one-year Fellowship only after a year has passed from the end of their sojourn. The Fellowship is named after Craig Hugh Smyth, third director of Villa I Tatti (1973-85) and funded by a generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Application

Applications and the supporting material must be submitted by February 15; hard copy applications cannot be postmarked after that date. The selection committee may request a telephone interview. An updated application form will be available later in the year.

Hard Copy Application

Application and supporting materials should be sent to:

Fellowship Application Office

Villa I Tatti

Via di Vincigliata 26

50135 Florence, Italy

Your applications should include:

1. A completed Craig Hugh Smyth Visiting Fellowship application form (click here to obtain a pdf form).

2. A curriculum vitae that does not exceed three pages, including a list of publications.

3. A statement of the project to be developed at I Tatti (circa 600 words, double-spaced).

The opening paragraph should be a concise abstract of the project. A focused bibliography

(maximum one page, single-spaced) should be added at the end. The statement can be in

either Italian or English.

4. A brief letter describing current position and listing previous sabbaticals or leaves.

Online Application

If you are submitting an online application, your application and supporting materials will be sent automatically to the Florence office; please do not send a hardcopy in the mail.

Please click here to submit an online application whereby you will then receive instructions on how to attach items #2-4 (listed above).

Letters of recommendation for both hardcopy and online applications

Two confidential letters of recommendation are required from scholars who know your work well. These should not be included with the application, and must not be sent or faxed by the candidate. They must be sent directly by the recommenders and should arrive by February 15, in one of the following ways:

• hard copies on official letterhead, mailed to the Florence address

• signed letter, scanned and sent by email attachment to applications@itatti.it;

or sent by fax to +39 055 3906894

Those who previously applied should submit a new application form, an updated curriculum vitae, project description, and at least one new letter of recommendation.