Matthew Beckmann, originally from Portland, Maine, is an MA in Art History alumnus (class of 2020). He holds an associate’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Maine Community College. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Humanistic Studies from JCU in 2019 and stayed on to earn an MA in Art History. Matthew now runs his own copywriting business in The Hague, Netherlands.
How did you become passionate about art history?
JCU is what converted me to art history. I began my time at JCU as an undergraduate business student after transferring from a community college in my home state. However, after taking some on-site art history elective classes and a poetry course, I found myself intrigued by the liberal arts. I promptly switched my major to Humanistic Studies, with minors in English Literature and Art History.
During my undergraduate years, JCU launched its Art History MA program. Meeting the MA students and learning about their fascinating research projects inspired me to stay at JCU and pursue the MA. That was certainly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
What classes and/or professors impacted you the most and why?
One of the most impactful courses for me was Ancient Roman and Mediterranean Mural Painting with Professor Crispin Corrado. It opened my eyes to the social and cultural contexts behind Greek and Roman murals. What stood out to me the most was the focus on the original architectural settings for these works. I even got the chance to try my own hand at priming and painting a fresco.
A very unique project I had the privilege to work on was Bronze Age Now, a group collaboration for Professor Cornelia Lauf’s Fabricating Rome course. A group of JCU M students collaborated with archeology students from Sapienza University of Rome and some contemporary artists to bridge the gap between the Bronze Age and the present. This was done by showcasing archaeological finds alongside contemporary performance and conceptual art.
One of the highlights of my MA journey was my work on the history of JCU’s Guarini Campus at Via della Lungara 233 for Practicum in Art-Historical Research with Professor Lila Yawn. This investigation of the primary historical record began with the cohort before mine, and eventually evolved into the Trastevere M2 Conference, an international conference on Rome’s historic neighborhood. I even had the opportunity to present my paper at this event.
My research centered on a partially executed 1929 expansion of the Lungara 233 complex, which, at the time, housed an oratory for a group of Salesian nuns. The expansion was halted after the Royal Academy of Italy raised objections, which were then forwarded to the mayor of Rome by Mussolini. What remains is an incomplete corner of a building that now towers over the Guarini campus; the stairs “tower” used to access the Secchia Roof Terrace.
The archival research skills and the microhistory methodology that I learned during this project ended up being fundamental for my thesis work.
Tell us about your thesis.
My master’s thesis is titled, "The Citadel of Culture: The Italian Academy’s Unrealized Urban Plan to Transform Rome’s Lungara Neighborhood." It explores the archival records of the 1939 proposal by the Reale Accademia d’Italia to turn the Lungara neighborhood of Rome into a cultural zone that reflected Mussolini’s totalitarian ambitions. I uncovered how this plan sought to reshape the built environment of a neighborhood into a tool for ideological control.
Working with archival documents that dating back to World War II was exhilarating, especially when I got to carefully unfold blueprints and maps. I wholeheartedly agree with French historian Arlette Farge, who wrote about “the allure of the archive.” There’s something undeniably thrilling about archival discovery. In a city like Rome, where every corner seems to hold a secret, the archives are an endless treasure trove of history waiting to be explored.
What was it like to study art history in Rome?
You can’t ask for a better place to study art history. From ancient Egyptian obelisks through art-filled Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches, to neoclassical statues that embody political ideals, Rome is an art historian’s dream. Every street has something to discover, whether it's a reused ancient marble block, Marian street shrines (commonly known as Madonnelle), or a striking piece of contemporary art.
Having the ability to experience some of the greatest masterpieces of Western art in person during an on-site class is an experience that no PowerPoint presentation can replicate.
How did the master's program prepare you for your professional life?
Now I’ve come full circle, tapping back into my business roots by launching a content and copywriting business in the Netherlands. The research and writing skills I acquired during my MA have been invaluable. I’ve even had the opportunity to do some freelance work creating art history content for educational projects. I’m eager to continue growing in this niche business, drawing on the knowledge of art history I gained at JCU. Who says you can’t blend the best of both worlds?
