Thesis title: Deconstructing the Dark Century of Rome: Historiography, Material Culture, and Dynamics of Lay Patronage in the Tenth Century
The 10th century Rome is a relatively understudied period due to the scarcity of surviving sources and the complexity of interpreting them. Despite this, this thesis focuses on a reassessment of visual art of the period, with interest in historiography and visual culture related to lay patronage. The conventional emphasis on papal history and patronage has led to the marginalization of studies on this period. By examining lay commissions, this thesis posits that lay patronage was a vital factor in shaping the visual culture of the 10th century Rome, challenging the traditional perception of it as a “dark century”.