The basilica that was built by Constantine at the Vatican in the early fourth century to mark the burial place of the Apostle Peter became the central place for Christian worship in the West for more than a millennium until its protracted demolition over the course of the sixteenth century. The essential chronology of the construction of Old St Peter's, and the major modifications made to its fabric over subsequent centuries, are well established. But a great many questions remain to be answered about details of the building and its monuments, and on the ways in which the basilica and its environs functioned as a 'theatre' of worship, burial and power throughout the middle ages from the fourth to sixteenth centuries.
We are announcing a Call for Papers for an international, multidisciplinary conference on Old St Peter's to be held at the British School at Rome from 22-25 March 2010, with a publication to follow.
We are particularly keen to encourage papers from advanced postgraduate students and new postdoctoral scholars whose research focuses on aspects of the fabric, monuments or use of the basilica of Old St Peter's.
Proposals of c. 300 words should be sent to the conference organisers (details below) by 1 July 2009.
Confirmed contributors include :
Prof. Dr. Lex Bosman and Prof. Dr. Bram Kempers (Universiteit van Amsterdam) ; Prof. Herbert Kessler (Johns Hopkins University) ; Prof. Paolo Liverani (Università degli studi di Firenze) ; Prof. Rosamond McKitterick (University of Cambridge) ; Dr. Richard Gem (UK) ; Dr. Pietro Zander (Reverenda Fabbrica di San Pietro).
OSP Conference organisers :
Prof. John Osborne, Carleton University, Canada (john_osborne@carleton.ca)
Dr. Carol Richardson, The Open University, UK (c.m.richardson@open.ac.uk)
Dr. Joanna Story, The University of Leicester, UK (js73@le.ac.uk)