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Giulia Ammannati on Giotto, Genius Loci, and the Ancient Future

opinion-review · 2026-04-27

Giulia Ammannati, a paleography professor at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, discusses her interdisciplinary research bridging Roman antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. She reveals her deep personal connection to Giotto, tracing it to her adolescence and culminating in her study 'La A di Giotto,' which identifies the artist's handwriting in his works. Ammannati emphasizes the importance of genius loci, rooted in her Florentine identity, and describes a formative moment when she perceived Brunelleschi's dome as a natural extension of the landscape. She argues that the past is not primitive but vital and visible, citing her mentor Gian Biagio Conte. For the future, she advocates for research driven by passion and curiosity, both in response to societal needs and for the sheer joy of discovery. The interview is part of the 'Futuro Antico' series by Ludovico Pratesi on Artribune.

Key facts

  • Giulia Ammannati (born 1971 in Florence) teaches Latin paleography at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa.
  • Her research interests span from Roman antiquity to the Renaissance, combining paleography, classical philology, and art history.
  • She is particularly attached to her study 'La A di Giotto,' which identifies Giotto's handwriting in his works.
  • Ammannati's love for Giotto began in her adolescence and has both intellectual and emotional dimensions.
  • She credits the genius loci of Florence and Tuscany for shaping her research orientation.
  • She recalls a pivotal moment in adolescence when she saw Brunelleschi's dome as a perfect natural harmony.
  • Ammannati cites Gian Biagio Conte's idea that 'the ancient is visible, not hidden like roots.'
  • The interview is part of the 'Futuro Antico' series curated by Ludovico Pratesi on Artribune.

Entities

Artists

  • Giotto
  • Filippo Brunelleschi
  • Dante Alighieri

Institutions

  • Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
  • Artribune
  • Cappella degli Scrovegni
  • Haltadefinizione

Locations

  • Firenze
  • Italia
  • Padova
  • Vespigano
  • Mugello
  • Pisa
  • Toscana

Sources