Convents throughout Catholic Europe were often closely associated with individual families over several generations. This session seeks to address convents as sites of multi-generational female patronage or presence. Can a case be made that certain convents served as female dynastic « palaces’ in contradistinction to the overtly patrilineal family palace »
In addition to patronage–for decorations, intentions, or convent maintenance–placing young women in convents where female relatives were already present, passing cells along family lines, and appointing successive abbesses cemented such relationships. How, in particular, did royal and noblewomen use their association with convents’
Papers should be not more than 20 minutes in length. Since the Conference?s deadline for submitting complete sessions is March 15, paper proposals (one page, plus a brief c.v.) must reach Sheila ffolliott at sffollio@gmu.edu by February 28 .
For more information see http://www.sixteenthcentury.org/conference/