Artology: Studies in the Arts invites submissions for its second issue (Vol. 1, No. 2, 2026), which will be a special issue dedicated to the theme:
Leonardo da Vinci in the Global Imaginary: Entanglements with China
Guest Edited by Prof. Edoardo Villata (Northeastern University, Shenyang, China)
This special edition aims to continue the discussion started by the major exhibition “Chi è Leonardo da Vinci?” (Who Is Leonardo da Vinci?) at the Shanghai Museum in December 2023. By putting Leonardo’s work in conversation with Chinese art classics, the show sparked a powerful cross-cultural inquiry. For this issue, we welcome scholarly essays that critically investigate the numerous connections between the figure of Leonardo da Vinci—both as a historical artist and a modern myth—and China—as a civilization, a nation, and an enduring cultural notion.
We invite interdisciplinary contributions from art history, visual studies, sinology, intellectual history, museum studies, philosophy of art, and other subjects that investigate, but are not limited to, the following lines of inquiry:
- Material Traces & Historical Crossroads: Examinations of the circulation of artifacts and ideas along pre-modern trade channels; substantiation or conjecture concerning the influences or similarities between Leonardo’s methodologies, iconography, or intellectual endeavors and Chinese artistic or scientific traditions.
- Reception & Mythmaking in China: Research on the translation, interpretation, and integration of Leonardo in Chinese academia, popular culture, and educational systems. What defines a "Chinese" viewpoint toward his work?
- Leonardo as a Cultural Mediator: Critical evaluations of exhibitions, diplomatic efforts, or public dialogues that utilize Leonardo as a conduit between European and Chinese cultural narratives.
- Scholars as Bridges: Intellectual histories of prominent individuals whose contributions encompassed both Leonardo studies and Chinese art history, analyzing how their cross-cultural knowledge influenced contemporary interpretations.
Contributions may take various forms, including:
- Research Articles
- Visual or Critical Essays
- Shorter Scholarly Interventions
- Comparative or Cross-Cultural Analyses
About the Guest Editor
Edoardo Villata is Associate Professor at Northeastern University, Shenyang (Liaoning, China). A leading scholar of Renaissance art, he is the author of seminal monographs on artists including Leonardo da Vinci (2005, 2021), Bramantino (2012), and Gaudenzio Ferrari (2004). He has curated major exhibitions in Florence, Milan, and Switzerland, bringing both scholarly rigor and public engagement to the study of Italian art. His current academic position in China provides a unique scholarly vantage point for guest-editing this special issue.
Submission Guidelines
- Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026
- Expected Publication: December 2026
- Language: English
- Format: Submissions must follow the journal’s Chicago 18 (notes and bibliography) formatting guidelines.
- Peer Review: All articles will undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process.
- Open Access: Artology is a diamond open access journal; there are no fees for authors or readers.
- Submission Portal: Please submit manuscripts through our online platform:
https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/artology/about/submissions
Contact
For inquiries regarding this special issue, please contact the Guest Editor:
- Guest Editor: Prof. Edoardo Villata (Northeastern University, Shenyang, China) | luoentian@mail.neu.edu.cn
We look forward to your contributions to this pioneering exploration of Leonardo da Vinci’s global legacy.