Organised By: Netherlands Interuniversity Institute for Art History (NIKI), Florence
Date: Friday, 23 October 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:40 PM
Location: Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands
Format: Academic Symposium
Artemisia Gold Participation: Jane Adams, Special Collection Viewing

On 23 October 2026, the Netherlands Interuniversity Institute for Art History (NIKI) will present Italy and the Low Countries: Artistic Relations, New Research, an international symposium hosted at Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht.

Bringing together art historians, researchers and museum professionals, the symposium explores the artistic relationships between Italy and the Low Countries through new scholarship, technical research and archival discoveries. The programme is organised around three principal themes: Material Knowledge and the Artistic Workshop; Women as Makers, Patrons and Protagonists; and Afterlives: Memory and the Image.

As part of the symposium, Jane Adams of Artemisia Gold will host a special small-group viewing of two paintings attributed to Suor Plautilla Nelli (1524–1588), the pioneering Florentine Renaissance painter and Dominican nun.

Taking place during the lunch interval in the museum’s depot, the viewing will bring together the museum’s own panel and the recently restored Madonna and Child with Saint Catherine, Saint Agnes and Saint Dominic, brought by Jane Adams. Participants will have the opportunity to examine the two works together, offering a rare perspective on Nelli’s artistic practice and the importance of conservation in advancing research into her work.

The wider symposium features presentations examining Renaissance workshop collaborations, technical art history, women in Florentine confraternities, the circulation of artworks across Europe and emerging digital methodologies in art-historical research. Among the contributions is a presentation by Romy Kerkhof of the Rijksmuseum on the Anglo-Dutch painter Agatha van der Mijn and her participation in the 1737 exhibition of the Accademia dell’Arte del Disegno in Florence.

For Artemisia Gold, the special viewing reflects the organisation’s commitment to advancing the study, conservation and recognition of women artists whose contributions have long been underrepresented in art history. By bringing restored works into dialogue with museum collections and contemporary scholarship, the event offers an opportunity to further the understanding of Plautilla Nelli’s artistic legacy.

Event Details

Event: NIKI Symposium 2026: Italy and the Low Countries
Date: Friday, 23 October 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:40 PM
Venue: Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands

Special Viewing: Two paintings attributed to Plautilla Nelli, hosted by Jane Adams of Artemisia Gold during the lunch interval. Small groups of up to 15 participants.

Further Information: NIKI Florence

Programme: See the accompanying symposium brochure for the full schedule, speakers and abstracts.

Presented By: Robert Simon Fine Art
Dates: 19 October – 25 November 2026
Location: Robert Simon Fine Art, New York City
Format: Exhibition
Source: Robert Simon Fine Art, Press Release, 29 September 2026

From 19 October to 25 November 2026, Robert Simon Fine Art in New York presents Suor Plautilla Nelli: La Prima, a landmark exhibition dedicated to Suor Plautilla Nelli (1524–1588), the Dominican nun and pioneering Renaissance painter who became the first Florentine woman to achieve widespread recognition as an artist.

The first monographic exhibition devoted to Nelli outside her native Florence, La Prima brings together fourteen paintings and one drawing by the artist or directly connected with the workshop she established at the Convent of Santa Caterina in Cafaggio. Its title recalls Giorgio Vasari’s recognition of Nelli as “the first” among the women painters of her time.

While Nelli’s monumental religious paintings remain in Florence, notably at the Uffizi, Santa Maria Novella and San Marco, much of her artistic production consisted of intimate devotional works created for Florentine families and the nuns of her convent. These paintings form the heart of the exhibition, offering visitors an opportunity to explore her distinctive artistic practice and the remarkable workshop she directed.

Among the highlights are Christ and the Virgin Interceding with God the Father, one of only three known signed works by Nelli, her Portrait of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, and several compositions depicting the Madonna and Child accompanied by saints.

The exhibition is accompanied by a 110-page illustrated catalogue, edited by Gallery Director Dominic Ferrante, featuring contributions from international scholars and new technical research into Nelli’s materials and painting methods.

For Artemisia Gold, which has supported the conservation and renewed study of Nelli’s work, this exhibition represents another significant step towards restoring the artist’s rightful place within Renaissance art history and bringing her achievements to an international audience.

Plan Your Visit

Exhibition: Suor Plautilla Nelli: La Prima
Dates: 19 October – 25 November 2026
Venue: Robert Simon Fine Art
Address: 22 East 80th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10075
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

Further Information: Robert Simon Fine Art

Press Release: Available as an accompanying PDF.

In Collaboration With: Palazzo Spinelli Institute for Art and Restoration
Dates: 3–7 May 2027
Location: Florence, Italy
Format: One-Week Paintings Restoration Certificate Course
Language: English
Duration: 40 hours
Experience Level: Open to all; no previous restoration experience required

View Flyer

Artemisia Gold, in collaboration with the Palazzo Spinelli Institute for Art and Restoration, invites participants to Florence for an immersive, one-week introduction to the art and practice of paintings restoration.

Home to an extraordinary concentration of artistic masterpieces and conservation expertise, Florence offers a unique setting in which to discover the techniques used to safeguard cultural heritage. For 35 years, Palazzo Spinelli has welcomed students from around the world into its restoration laboratories, combining academic knowledge with practical experience.

Taking place from 3–7 May 2027, this intensive English-language course introduces participants to both the theory and practice of conservation. The programme examines the structure and deterioration of paintings, preventive conservation, aesthetic restoration, retouching methods and the ethical considerations that inform decisions made by professional conservators.

The practical workshop moves from observation to hands-on experience. Participants will learn about the structural recovery of damaged canvases, examine paint losses and previous retouching under ultraviolet technologies, explore pigments used in conservation, prepare and apply plaster, fill areas of paint loss and practise mimetic retouching and varnish glazes. Most importantly, students will have the opportunity to work under supervision with real paintings, with practical activities adapted to the conservation needs of each work.

No previous restoration experience is necessary. The course is open to anyone with a good working knowledge of English, making it an exceptional opportunity for art lovers, collectors, students and those curious to understand what happens behind the scenes in the conservation of historic works of art. Participants who complete the 40-hour programme will receive a certificate of attendance from Palazzo Spinelli.

Course Details & Registration

The course fee is €850 per participant, with an early-bird rate of €765 for enrolments completed by 3 March 2027. Places are intentionally limited to a maximum of 12 participants, and the course will proceed once a minimum of eight participants has been reached.

The course runs Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM and 1:30–5:30 PM at Palazzo Spinelli’s restoration laboratories, Via delle Casine 21/rosso, Florence.

For further information about Artemisia Gold and this special paintings restoration course, contact jane@artemisiagold.org.

Hosted By: Art History in Focus
Speaker: Dr Kristina Mandy
Date & Time: Monday, 30 November 2026, 6:00 PM GMT
Format: Live Online Guest Lecture
Source Credit: Art History in Focus / The National Gallery, London

Join Art History in Focus for a special online guest lecture with Dr Kristina Mandy, conservator at the National Gallery in London, offering a rare opportunity to explore the work that takes place behind the scenes of one of the world’s great art collections.

Conservation plays a vital role in understanding and safeguarding works of art for future generations. Through close examination, technical research and careful treatment, conservators can reveal details about an artist’s materials and working methods that are often invisible to the naked eye.

Drawing on her work at the National Gallery, Dr Mandy will offer insight into this highly specialised field and the processes involved in studying, caring for and preserving historic paintings. The lecture provides a fascinating perspective on the relationship between art history, scientific investigation and hands-on conservation, and the expertise required to protect works in a major museum collection.

Presented live online by Art History in Focus, the event offers audiences the opportunity to look beyond the finished paintings displayed in the galleries and discover some of the research and conservation work that allows us to understand them in new ways.

How to Attend

The lecture will take place online on Monday, 30 November 2026 at 6:00 PM GMT.

Register and find further information via Art History in Focus:
Behind the Scenes in Conservation at the National Gallery

Hosted By: Netherlands Interuniversity Institute for Art History (NIKI), Florence
Format: International Conference & Public Programme
Date: Friday, 18 September 2026

Click here register for online attendance via Teams.

Click here to view the programme.

On 18 September 2026, the Netherlands Interuniversity Institute for Art History in Florence will host A Shift in Perspective: Critically Rethinking Women Artists’ Biography in the Early Modern Period, an expert meeting organised by Romy Kerkhof.

The programme brings together art historians, historians, museum professionals and digital humanities scholars to examine the role of artist biographies in contemporary research on early modern women artists. Its central focus is how biographical texts construct, transmit and transform knowledge through source networks, narrative strategies and their wider social and cultural contexts.

The meeting takes as a key case study Francesco Maria Niccolò Gabburri’s unpublished manuscript Le Vite di Pittori, compiled between approximately 1719 and 1742. As one of the most extensive early modern biographical collections to include women artists, the manuscript offers an important point of departure for investigating how their lives and careers were recorded across geographical, linguistic and cultural boundaries.

As part of the afternoon session dedicated to individual case studies, Jane Adams of Artemisia Gold Inc. will present “Investigating Artemisia in the Spada Gallery.” Her contribution will form part of a wider discussion on archival research, attribution, conservation and the recovery of women artists’ histories.

The public portion of the programme will be presented in hybrid format and includes contributions from scholars affiliated with the University of Florence, the Museum of Rome, Save Venice and other international institutions. A later session for invited participants will consider feminist scholarship, digital archiving and sustainable infrastructures for sharing research on women artists’ life writing.

The presentations are open to the public, with the option to attend online. The expert meeting is supported by the Friends of the NIKI.

Discover Italy Through Art, History & Culture

Fall 2026 Art & Cultural Tour

2–11 October 2026

Join Artemisia Gold and Viaggi Italiani for an unforgettable 10-day cultural journey through the artistic heart of Italy.

From the spiritual landscapes of Assisi to the Renaissance splendour of Florence, this thoughtfully curated small-group tour has been designed for travellers who wish to experience Italy beyond the guidebooks. Explore medieval hill towns, discover remarkable churches and museums, meet local artisans, enjoy authentic regional cuisine, and follow the legacy of pioneering women artists—including Plautilla Nelli and Artemisia Gentileschi—through exclusive, expert-led experiences.

Throughout the journey you’ll stay in carefully selected boutique hotels while enjoying private guided tours, vineyard visits, a hands-on Tuscan cooking class, artisan workshops, and exceptional Umbrian and Tuscan gastronomy. Every detail has been arranged to create an intimate and enriching experience, combining art, history, architecture and the pleasures of Italian hospitality.

Tour Highlights

• 10 Days / 9 Nights across Assisi, Florence & Fiumicino
• Boutique four-star accommodation with daily breakfast
• Private guided cultural and art-focused tours
• Exclusive experiences celebrating the legacy of women artists
• Visits to Assisi, Montefalco, Spello, Perugia, Deruta, Siena & Florence
• Tuscan cooking class and local market visit
• Winery and olive oil tasting experiences
• Farmhouse lunches and regional dining
• Welcome and farewell receptions
• All transportation throughout the itinerary
• Museum admissions, gratuities and hotel taxes included

As part of your participation, US$500 from every booking is donated directly to Artemisia Gold, supporting the conservation and restoration of important works of art and helping preserve cultural heritage for future generations.

Download the Tour Brochure (PDF)

Tour Price

US$7,950 per person
(Based on double occupancy)

A US$1,200 non-refundable deposit secures your place, with the remaining balance due 50 days prior to departure. Spaces are limited and the tour operates with a minimum of eight guests.

Reserve Your Place

To register, simply provide your passport details and contact information before submitting your deposit.

For reservations and further information:

Viaggi Italiani
Info@ViaggiItaliani.com
+1 (609) 625-7401

Experience Italy through the stories, masterpieces and landscapes that have inspired artists for centuries—and become part of preserving that legacy with Artemisia Gold.

Celebrating Artemisia Gold: New Technologies in Art Attribution & Conservation is a special podcast bringing together leading voices in art history, conservation, and technology to discuss one of the most exciting recent research initiatives undertaken by Artemisia Gold.

Hosted by internationally bestselling author and art historian Dr Noah Charney, the conversation explores the recent diagnostic campaign sponsored by Artemisia Gold on Artemisia Gentileschi’s Mother and Child, part of the collection of the Galleria Spada in Rome.

Joining Dr Charney are Dr Adriana Capriotti, Director of the Galleria Spada, and Beatrice de’ Ruggieri, technical art specialist at Emmebi Diagnostica Artistica, who will discuss the scientific investigations carried out on the painting and the new discoveries emerging from the project.

The discussion also introduces the growing role of artificial intelligence in technical art history, with contributions from Art Recognition, whose pioneering technology is helping transform the field of artwork attribution through AI-assisted analysis.

Together, the panel examines how conservation science, diagnostic imaging, archival research, and emerging technologies are reshaping our understanding of Old Master paintings and opening new possibilities for the authentication and study of historically significant works.

This special event celebrates Artemisia Gold’s ongoing commitment to the rediscovery, research, conservation, and promotion of women artists through collaboration with leading international experts and institutions.

Speakers

Host: Dr Noah Charney

Guests:

• Dr Adriana Capriotti, Director, Galleria Spada, Rome
• Beatrice de’ Ruggieri, Emmebi Diagnostica Artistica
• Art Recognition (AI Art Attribution)

About Dr Noah Charney

Dr Noah Charney is an internationally bestselling author of more than thirty books translated into fourteen languages. His publications include The Collector of Lives: Giorgio Vasari and the Invention of Art, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography, and Museum of Lost Art, a finalist for the Digital Book World Awards.

A professor of art history specialising in art crime, he has taught at Yale University, Brown University, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery in London, and numerous other leading institutions. He is the founder of ARCA (Association for Research into Crimes against Art) and is widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost authorities on art crime and cultural heritage.