During your educational journey, you encounter many teachers and professors. There are some that you click with, some that you absolutely detest, and some that simply suffice. And then there are those rare professors...the ones that manage to make an impact. The one that makes you care. They do more than teach a lesson and distribute an exam. They engage and connect. While studying in Siena, Rebecca Mencaroni was, for me, one of those rare professors.
One of our courses while studying abroad was “Siena: Reading the City as a Textbook”. This unique course combines the disciplines of anthropology and art history to give us a rich understanding of the development of Siena and its culture. Rebecca, a PHD candidate and Sienese art historian, was our professor for the art history segment.
In art history, medieval art is basically synonymous with religious iconography. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love art. I can spend entire days wandering around museums. But medieval art from the Middle Ages happens to be my least favorite period. Seriously, how many times can you paint The Annunciation??? (The answer is: there is no limit.) The thought of spending three months studying paintings of the Virgin and Jesus Christ did not exactly make me jump for joy, but I was going to approach it with an open attitude. By the time Rebecca was done with us, my attitude was more than just “open”. It had completely changed.
Rebecca’s love for medieval art is unmistakable. When she introduced us to a new artist, she didn’t just rattle off dates and facts. She spoke of them with fervor and awe. Sometimes, historical art can seem distant. Rebecca’s discussions make you feel connected. She would point out the little things like a minute clothing detail and this little thing would reveal so much more about the painting than you imagined. She made analyzing a painting like a puzzle or game, quizzing us on what certain aspects could possibly mean, and encouraging us to make educated guesses. Even if we were wrong she never made us feel unknowledgeable. We worked together as a group to understand the piece, its significance, and its place in Sienese culture and history.
Rebecca’s approach and sense of humor kept us engaged. While teaching, she never shied away from weaving in her personal opinions. You would think that these artists were rock stars from the way she described them. Her expression of mock disappointment when we didn’t immediately recognize a Simone Martini piece simultaneously made us laugh but also made us work harder to understand these artists. Because although she was joking, no one actually wanted to be the person who didn’t know Simone Martini in Rebecca’s presence.
Even outside of the classroom, Rebecca made an impression. She is more than an art historian. She is well traveled, multi-lingual, and passionate about the world. Rebecca is also relatable. Despite our different cultural backgrounds, I found that she and I have many important things in common. We both have crushes on Jack White and cringe at overly extravagant marriage proposals. For me, Rebecca became an inspiration. Her thirst for exploration and education are traits I hope to continue to foster within myself.
Rebecca impacted the way I will view art (especially medieval art) for the rest of my life. Over the course of three months, you became more than just our art history professor. You became a friend. I will not be able to remember Siena without thinking of you and your teachings, and for that, I thank you.