MA Alumna, Ruth Nelson, publishes a new book!
Ruth Nelson (MA, 2007) has just published a new book; Our Lady of the World's Fair: Bringing Michelangelo's Pieta to Queens in 1964 will be released by Cornell University Press next month to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair.
This book tells the story of how two of New York's most influential leaders persuaded the Vatican to allow one of the world's greatest works of art to leave Europe for the first and only time. Driven by different motives, Robert Moses and Francis Cardinal Spellman had the same vision: to display Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Pieta, in the Vatican's pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair in Queens, NY.
Ruth notes "It's sometimes hard for art history majors to work in their field, but there are opportunities in writing, and publishers are always looking for a good topic!" These are words of encouragement for us all. Congratulations, Ruth!
Update: Our Lady of the World's Fair is listed on Hyperallergic's 18 Books to Read this Fall!