PP fluxes and exotic branes

We consider the ${\cal N}=1$ superpotential generated in type-II orientifold models by non-geometric fluxes. In particular, we focus on the family of $P$ fluxes, that are related by T-duality transformations to the S-dual of the $Q$ flux. We determine the general rule that transforms a given flux in this family under a single T-duality transformation. This rule allows to derive a complete expression for the superpotential for both the IIA and the IIB theory for the particular case of a $T^6/[\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2 ]$ orientifold. We then consider how these fluxes modify the generalised Bianchi identities. In particular, we derive a fully consistent set of quadratic constraints coming from the NS-NS Bianchi identities. On the other hand, the $P$ flux Bianchi identities induce tadpoles, and we determine a set of exotic branes that can be consistently included in order to cancel them. This is achieved by determining a universal transformation rule under T-duality satisfied by all the branes in string theory.Comment: 29 pages. Refs. added, end of subsection 4.2 improved, other minor changes. Version published on JHE

Non-geometric fluxes & tadpole conditions for exotic branes

We extend the $P$-flux analysis carried out recently on the $T^6/[\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2 ]$ type-II orientifold model to include all the possible non-geometric fluxes. By deriving universal T-duality rules for all the fluxes, we are able to write down a complete expression for the superpotential for both the IIB and IIA theories. By exploiting the universal T-duality rules that apply to all the branes in string theory, we then identify all the exotic branes that can be consistently included to cancel the tadpoles induced by the fluxes. Finally, we derive the representations of these branes with respect to the $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})^7$ duality symmetry of the model.Comment: 33 pages, refs. added. Notation improved. Discussion on the solutions of the tadpole conditions added in the conclusions. Version published on JHE

La décoration monumentale à Rome aux XIe et XIIe siècles : révisions chronologiques, stylistiques et thématiques

This article discusses research undertaken over the past ten years on monumental decors (painting and mosaics) realized in Rome between the mid-11(th) century and the mid-12(th) century, otherwise known as the period of the Gregorian reform. After presenting a brief summary of the most significant recent art-historical publications on the subject, the text offers an analysis of the themes developed thus far in the bibliography on the subject: antiquity and the Monte Cassino; narrative; atlantic Bibles; writing and image; theory of "reformed" art; patrons. It then proposes an analysis of the Corpus della pittura medievale romana, published in 2006, which represents a fundamental link between previous studies and new orientations in research. The argument developed covers two time periods, the 11(th) and 12(th) centuries respectively, and presents not only the principal discoveries of the Corpus (stylistic and compositional comparisons, chronological shifts, examination of lost works, renewal of themes studied), but also the contribution of later publications and the ongoing critical debate. The article delves into three examples in particular: the wood-panel painting of the Last Judgment housed in the Musei Vaticani, the cycle of paintings from the lower basilica of San Crisogono, and paintings from the lower church of San Clemente. As for the 12(th) century, the article presents research undertaken on the mosaics of San Bortolomeo all'isola, San Clemente, and Santa Maria in Trastevere. It concludes with an analysis of cycles of imagery still preserved within the former territory of Latium related, either through their subject matter or artistically, to the Roman tradition and the connection between the "reformed" art of Rome and larger European culture. ITALIANO La decorazione monumentale realizzata a Roma tra i secoli XI e XII è un tema largamente affrontato dalla storiografia critica. L'articolo ripercorre gli ultimi dieci anni di studi, mettendoli in prospettiva e individuano i principali assi tematici che hanno animato il dibattito. Alla luce delle scoperte recenti e delle pubblicazioni che si sono succedute, emerge un quadro complesso dell'arte durante la Riforma della Chiesa che arricchisce e corregge gli studi del passato

Introduzione. Le tante vie dell’arte armena e dell’Oriente cristiano

l volume raccoglie alcune delle conferenze presentate durante il Settimo Seminario di Arte armena e dell’Oriente cristiano, organizzato nel 2021 dal Dipartimento di Filosofia e Beni Culturali (DFBC) (Stefano Riccioni, Beatrice Spampinato) e dal Dipartimento di Studi sull’Asia e l’Africa mediterranea (DSAAM) (Aldo Ferrari, Marco Ruffili), nell’ambito della programmazione didattica della Scuola di Dottorato in Storia delle Arti dell’Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia. Il seminario si tenne, inoltre, con il patrocinio del Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena (CSDCA), della Congregazione Armena Mechitarista, dell’Associazione Italiana per lo Studio dell’Asia centrale e del Caucaso (ASIAC), ai quali si è unito anche il Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz – Max-Planck-Institut (KHI)

Per un progetto sui dipinti firmati di Venezia in età gotica e tardogotica

The paper provides a brief examination of Lorenzo Veneziano signatures as first step of a research project which aims at gathering and examining on the signature-inscriptions on paintings by the Venetian painters and the painters who worked in Venice in the Gothic age (XIIIth century-early decades of XVth century). The study of the inscriptions will be conducted with an interdisciplinary approach, joining art-history, paleography and philology in a historic, critic and social perspective so as to achieve a better comprehension of the emergence of the artist’s figure and name on the works of art as well as in the society; the methods of production of paintings and the organization of workshops; the literacy and ‘culture’ of the artists and their relationship with the world of the written word; the birth of a biographical and professional ‘memory’ and self-consciousness; The technical and critical vocabulary of medieval artistic culture

Armenian Art and Culture from the Pages of the Historia Imperii Mediterranei

The article studies the editorial series called “Historia Imperii Mediterranei” (HIM) that was directed by Lauro Mainardi, an official of the National Fascist Party, in cooperation with the Armenian Committee of Italy. Between 1939 and 1941, the HIM published a series of booklets entitled Armenia that contained not only articles on Armenia but also “essays on Oriental culture”. According to Mainardi, the HIM had a wide cultural interest in art and architecture but also in literature, poetry, philosophy, and politics. The series published two significant essays: the article by Josef Strzygowski, where he innovatively affirmed the role of the East in Christian art and where he employed “Aryan” racial theory; and Giuseppe Frasson’s article, which shows that Strzygowski was recognised as an innovator but, at the same time, that Byzantine studies in Italy were confined to the nationalistic purpose of affirming ‘Italian’ elements in Roman art. In conclusion, the HIM illustrates the political and cultural strategy of the Fascist party with respect to the Caucasian question in addition to its support of the strategy of the Armenian Committee of Italy for protecting Armenians in Italy before the Second World War

Catalogue des inscriptions inédites du Palais abbatial de Saint-Claude (seconde moitié XIVe-début XVIe siècle)

Catalogo ragionato di iscrizioni inedite, databili tra il secolo XIV e il secolo XV, scoperte durante gli scavi nel palazzo abbaziale (1999-2002) del Palazzo Abbaziale di Saint-Claude (Jura francese). Le lastre tombali trovate nella chiesa di Notre-Dame des Trépassés e nella cosiddetta "Chapelle aux fresques", rivelano importanti informazioni circa i rituali funerari della comunità dei monaci locali. Le iscrizioni, scritte con una gotica spezzata (textura) in alcuni casi molto elaborata e curata, contengono formulari in francese e latino. L'articolo si sofferma sulle due iscrizioni di Claude Venet, una incisa sulla lastra funeraria e l'altra dipinta sulla parete della cappella affrescata, che rivelano un attento "programma di esposizione grafica"

L’arte armena. Storia critica e nuove prospettive. Studies in Armenian and Eastern Christian Art 2020

L’esplorazione dell’arte armena iniziò nel diciannovesimo secolo grazie a storici dell’arte francesi, russi, tedeschi, finlandesi, austriaci e armeni e continuò nel ventesimo secolo prevalentemente con studiosi russi, armeni, ucraini, americani e italiani, che hanno portato all’attenzione del largo pubblico, non solo dei ricercatori, il patrimonio artistico di un territorio che supera i confini dell’attuale Armenia, e investe un’area definita Subcaucasia, termine con il quale si intende il territorio che dal Caucaso meridionale trapassa negli altopiani iranico e anatolico. L’interesse per l’arte armena, dai manoscritti miniati, ai khachkar, alle architetture, è cresciuto negli ultimi vent’anni conferendo a queste testimonianze una dimensione globale. Il volume illustra le caratteristiche, i temi e i metodi dei vari percorsi di ricerca emergenti dalle diverse tradizioni storiografiche tracciando così una mappa che aiuta ad orientarsi tra i fenomeni artistici e culturali di questo complesso territorio, fornendo diverse chiavi per comprenderli e ragionamenti utili per le future indagini scientifiche