| Dear Harvard Alumni and Friends, The Harvard Center Shanghai cordially invites you to a lecture by Professor Jonathan K. Nelson, Assistant Director at Villa I Tatti - The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies (Florence), on Thursday, October 25th, 2012. Professor Nelson will give a presentation entitled “A Cost-Benefit Approach to Renaissance Art: the Medici as Patrons”. We usually talk about art from the point of the view of artists or viewers. This lecture takes the perspective of those who ordered works in 15th century Florence. One patron explained that his commissions brought him “the greatest pleasure because they serve the glory of God, the honor of the city, and the commemoration of myself.” Focusing on the ruling family, the Medici, we consider three main elements for analyzing commissions: benefits, costs, and limiting factors. The patron’s goal was to commission a work that would bring the maximum about of benefits for the lowest costs, working within the applicable constraints. Warm regards, Harvard Center Shanghai Event Details: Date: 18:30 - 20:30 Thursday, October 25th, 2012. Light refreshments will be served. Venue: Harvard Center Shanghai, 5F, HSBC Building, Shanghai ifc, 8 Century Avenue, Shanghai Tel: (86 21) 3852-3800 上海浦东新区世纪大道8号，上海国金中心，汇丰银行大楼5楼, 电话: (86 21) 3852 - 3800 Cost: Free About Professor Jonathan K. Nelson Jonathan K. Nelson is Assistant Director for Academic Programs and Publications at Villa I Tatti - The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies (Florence), and has taught Italian Renaissance art history at Syracuse University in Florence since 1994. Born and raised in New York, Jonathan obtained his PhD at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, under the supervision of John Pope-Hennessy, with a thesis on Filippino Lippi. In 2004 he co-authored a monograph on the artist, and co-curated an exhibition devoted to Botticelli and Filippino at the Palazzo Strozzi, Florence. Jonathan also co-curated two exhibitions at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence: Venus and Cupid. Michelangelo and the New Ideal of Beauty (2002, the subject of his I Tatti fellowship the same year) and Robert Mapplethorpe: Perfection in Form (2009). Other books include Leonardo and the Reinvention of the Female Figure: Leda, Lisa and Mary (2007) and, as editor, Plautilla Nelli (1524-1588): The Painter- Prioress of Renaissance Florence (2008); Filippino Lippi e Pietro Perugino: La Deposizione della Santissima Annunziata e il suo restauro (2004); and Michelangelo: Poetry and Sculpture (2003). The author of dozens of essays and exhibition catalogue entries, Jonathan’s most recent book is a collaboration with Richard J. Zeckhauser, Frank Plumpton Ramsey Professor of Political Economy at the Harvard Kennedy School: The Patron’s Payoff: Economic Frameworks for Conspicuous Commissions in Renaissance Italy (2008). They are currently working on new research project: "Displeased Patrons and Quality Control in the Visual Arts. A Game-Theoretic Approach." | 
