Tess Nalls is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Art History. Her primary interests lie in 18th- and 19th-century European art, with a focus on the period from Neoclassicism to Impressionism. She is particularly interested in how visual art reflects shifting ideas of gender, power, and representation in France and Italy.

She earned her BA from the University of Iowa, where she double majored in Art History and International Studies and studied abroad in Italy.

Art History Summer Scholar Research Program experience

In the summer of 2026, I had the opportunity to do international research in Europe for my master's qualifying paper. With funding from the Margarette Ellyson Rice Award and additional GPSG funding, I traveled to London, Rome, Florence, and Zurich to study the works of Artemisia Gentileschi and Angelica Kauffman firsthand in museum collections. 

In Rome and Florence, I was able to access archives and examine primary sources that will supplement my paper. In Florence, I also participated in the Medici Archive Project's week-long paleography seminar, which taught me skills for reading early modern Italian manuscripts. 

Overall, the trip was very influential for my research, and I made valuable connections, including meeting one of the authors I cite most.