When
ISIE 2025 Speaker Series | "Our Lady of the World's Fair: Bringing Michelangelo’s ‘Pietà’ to Queens in 1964.”
Speaker: Ruth D. Nelson, MA
When: February 26 | 12 p.m. via Zoom.
Art historian Ruth Nelson will present her book, Our Lady of the World's Fair: Bringing Michelangelo’s ‘Pietà’ to Queens in 1964, uncovering the remarkable story of how two of New York’s most influential leaders persuaded the Vatican to allow Michelangelo’s iconic Pietà to leave Europe for the first and only time. Though driven by different motives, Robert Moses and Francis Cardinal Spellman shared a vision: to bring one of the world’s greatest masterpieces to the Vatican Pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
A recording of the lecture will be available for registered participants for seven days following the event upon request to the email listed below.
About the Speaker
Ruth Nelson holds an MA in Art History from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research on the Marquette Building in Chicago earned her the Corning Museum of Glass Rakow Research Grant, and in 2018, she was named a State of Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar. She teaches art history at the College of DuPage’s continuing education department and continues to research and write on American art history.
About ISIE
The Institute for the Study of International Expositions (ISIE) is a global interdisciplinary network of researchers exploring the design, promotion, reception, and impact of world’s fairs and expositions since 1851. Our members come from diverse fields, including architecture, science, diplomacy, art, and technology. We welcome scholars, historians, and enthusiasts to join us in uncovering the lasting influence of these international events.