
Irene B Romano
- Professor, Art
- Professor, Anthropology
- Curator, Mediterranean Archaeology
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
- (520) 626-1377
- Raymond H. Thompson Building, Rm. 316-N
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- ireneromano@arizona.edu
Biography
Irene Bald Romano holds a joint appointment as Professor of Art History in the School of Art and Professor of Anthropology in the School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona. She also holds affiliated appointments in the Department of Religious Studies and Classics and in the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and is the Curator of Mediterranean Archaeology at the Arizona State Museum. She is the co-director of the Graduate Certificate Program in Museum Studies. From 2012 to 2015 she held the administrative appointment of Deputy Director of the Arizona State Museum.
Dr. Romano earned a Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Manhattanville College. She has more than 30 years of experience as a museum professional, holding many positions, including as registrar, curator, researcher, consultant, and coordinator of the collections division at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia. Dr. Romano moved to the University of Arizona in 2012 from a position she held for six years as Executive Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
She is the author, co-author, or editor of eight books, as well as numerous articles on ancient Mediterranean collections, Greek and Roman sculpture, pottery, terracotta figurines, Greek cult practice, and marble provenance studies. She has extensive archaeological field experience in Greece, Spain, Italy, and Turkey, and has worked with scholars from many countries on international research and museum projects.
Dr. Romano's two most recent publications are The Fate of Antiquities in the Nazi Era (2023) which she edited and co-authored (https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/rihajournal/issue/view/5439) and Beth Shean Studies: Aspects of Religion, History, Art, and Archaeology in Hellenistic and Roman Nysa-Scythopolis (2024), co-authored with Kyle Mahoney (https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/52023). A co-authored article on a fragment of a Neo-Assyrian relief fragment in the Arizona State Museum will appear in November 2024 in the Bulletin of the American Society of Overseas Research (BASOR). She is currently working on a publication on a corpus of Late Hellenistic marble statuettes from a Parthian site in Iraqi Kurdistan, and is engaged in a research project on a group of Greek and Roman sculptures collected by Ludwig Pollak, an important connoisseur, dealer, collector, and museum director in Rome in the later 19th and early 20th centuries.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Classical Archaeology
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Early Greek Cult Images
- B.A. English Literature
- Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York, United States
Work Experience
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona (2012 - 2015)
- School of Art, University of Arizona (2012 - 2015)
- Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona (2012 - 2015)
- American School of Classical Studies at Athens (2006 - 2012)
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2003)
- University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (2000 - 2004)
- Franklin and Marshall College (1990)
- Self-employed (1989 - 2006)
- University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (1985 - 1989)
- University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (1984 - 1988)
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1982 - 1987)
- University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (1981 - 1984)
Awards
- Morgan-Solomon Grant for Faculty Research
- School of Art, University of Arizona, Summer 2023 (Award Finalist)
- Faculty Professional Development Endowment Award
- School of Art, University of Arizona, Summer 2017
- Benjamin Franklin Research Grant
- American Philosophical Society, Summer 2016
- Faculty Small Grant
- College of Fine Arts and School of Art, University of Arizona, Summer 2016
- Marcia and Oded Borowski Research Fellowship
- Albright Institute of Archaeology, Jerusalem, Summer 2016
- NEH Summer Stipend
- University of Arizona/National Endowment for the Humanities, Spring 2016 (Award Nominee)
- Post-Doctoral Fellow of the Archaeological Institute of America at the German Archaeological Institute, Berlin
- Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (DAI), Berlin, Summer 2015
- College of Fine Arts Faculty Small Grant and School of Art Fund for Excellence
- College of Fine Arts and School of Art, Spring 2015
Interests
Teaching
Professor Romano teaches courses on plundered art from antiquity to the present day, cultural heritage issues, museum studies, as well as ancient art and archaeology of the Mediterranean region.
Research
Professor Romano's research interests are Greek and Roman sculpture, marble provenience studies, the history of museum collections, Greek and Roman cult practices, ancient gardens, and Nazi-Era provenance research, especially on antiquities that were confiscated or transferred from 1933 to 1945 in Europe and the Middle East.
Courses
2024-25 Courses
-
Critical Issues for Museums
ANTH 372 (Spring 2025) -
Dissertation
ARH 920 (Spring 2025) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Spring 2025) -
Internship
ARH 693 (Spring 2025) -
Issues: Art History
ARH 596O (Spring 2025) -
Thesis
ARH 910 (Spring 2025) -
Dissertation
ARH 920 (Fall 2024) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
ANTH 454 (Fall 2024) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
ARH 454 (Fall 2024) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
ARH 554 (Fall 2024) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
CLAS 554 (Fall 2024) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Fall 2024) -
Thesis
ARH 910 (Fall 2024) -
Topics In Museum Studies
ARH 500 (Fall 2024) -
Topics in Museum Studies
ARH 400 (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Internship
ARH 593 (Summer I 2024) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Spring 2024) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 501A (Spring 2024) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
ANTH 349 (Spring 2024) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
CLAS 349 (Spring 2024) -
Dissertation
ARH 920 (Spring 2024) -
Internship
ARH 393 (Spring 2024) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Spring 2024) -
Thesis
CLAS 910 (Spring 2024) -
Critical Issues for Museums
ANTH 372 (Fall 2023) -
Dissertation
ARH 920 (Fall 2023) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Fall 2023) -
Topics In Museum Studies
ARH 500 (Fall 2023) -
Topics in Museum Studies
ARH 400 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Spring 2023) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 501A (Spring 2023) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
ANTH 349 (Spring 2023) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
CLAS 349 (Spring 2023) -
Dissertation
ARH 920 (Spring 2023) -
Independent Study
ARH 499 (Spring 2023) -
Internship
ARH 393 (Spring 2023) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Spring 2023) -
Internship
ARH 693 (Spring 2023) -
Thesis
CLAS 910 (Spring 2023) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
ANTH 454 (Fall 2022) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
ANTH 554 (Fall 2022) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
CLAS 454 (Fall 2022) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
CLAS 554 (Fall 2022) -
Independent Study
ANTH 699 (Fall 2022) -
Internship
ARH 493 (Fall 2022) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Fall 2022) -
Topics In Museum Studies
ARH 500 (Fall 2022) -
Topics in Museum Studies
ARH 400 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Spring 2022) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
ANTH 349 (Spring 2022) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
CLAS 349 (Spring 2022) -
Honors Thesis
ARH 498H (Spring 2022) -
Internship
ARH 393 (Spring 2022) -
Critical Issues for Museums
ANTH 372 (Fall 2021) -
Honors Thesis
ARH 498H (Fall 2021) -
Internship
ARH 393 (Fall 2021) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Fall 2021) -
Thesis
ARH 910 (Fall 2021) -
Topics In Museum Studies
ARH 500 (Fall 2021) -
Topics in Museum Studies
ARH 400 (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Spring 2021) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
ANTH 349 (Spring 2021) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
CLAS 349 (Spring 2021) -
Independent Study
ARH 399 (Spring 2021) -
Internship
ANTH 393 (Spring 2021) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Spring 2021) -
Thesis
ARH 910 (Spring 2021) -
Critical Issues for Museums
ANTH 372 (Fall 2020) -
Independent Study
ARH 499 (Fall 2020) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Fall 2020) -
Issues: Art History
ARH 596O (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Spring 2020) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 501A (Spring 2020) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
ANTH 349 (Spring 2020) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
CLAS 349 (Spring 2020) -
Internship
ARH 393 (Spring 2020) -
Internship
ARH 493 (Spring 2020) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Spring 2020) -
Critical Issues for Museums
ANTH 372 (Fall 2019) -
Topics In Museum Studies
ARH 500 (Fall 2019) -
Topics in Museum Studies
ARH 400 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
-
Internship
ARH 593 (Summer I 2019) -
Thesis
ARH 910 (Spring 2019)
2017-18 Courses
-
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Spring 2018) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 501A (Spring 2018) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
ANTH 349 (Spring 2018) -
Daily Life in Anc. Greece/Rome
CLAS 349 (Spring 2018) -
Independent Study
ARH 599 (Spring 2018) -
Internship
ARH 393 (Spring 2018) -
Internship
ARH 493 (Spring 2018) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Spring 2018) -
Critical Issues for Museums
ANTH 372 (Fall 2017) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
ARH 454 (Fall 2017) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
ARH 554 (Fall 2017) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
CLAS 454 (Fall 2017) -
Greek+Roman Sculpture: Sym/Soc
CLAS 554 (Fall 2017) -
Honors Thesis
ARH 498H (Fall 2017) -
Internship
ARH 493 (Fall 2017) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Fall 2017) -
Topics In Museum Studies
ARH 500 (Fall 2017) -
Topics in Museum Studies
ARH 400 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Summer I 2017) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Summer I 2017) -
Intro Roman Art+Arch
ARH 340B (Summer I 2017) -
Intro Roman Art+Arch
CLAS 340B (Summer I 2017) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Spring 2017) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 501A (Spring 2017) -
Honors Thesis
ARH 498H (Spring 2017) -
Internship
ANTH 493 (Spring 2017) -
Internship
ARH 493 (Spring 2017) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Spring 2017) -
Sp Top Archaeology
ANTH 595A (Spring 2017) -
Critical Issues for Museums
ANTH 372 (Fall 2016) -
Independent Study
ARH 599 (Fall 2016) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Fall 2016) -
Topics In Art History
ARH 480 (Fall 2016) -
Topics In Art History
ARH 580 (Fall 2016)
2015-16 Courses
-
Honors Thesis
ANTH 498H (Summer I 2016) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Summer I 2016) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 401A (Spring 2016) -
Art As Plunder
ARH 501A (Spring 2016) -
Honors Thesis
ANTH 498H (Spring 2016) -
Internship
ANTH 493 (Spring 2016) -
Internship
ARH 393 (Spring 2016) -
Internship
ARH 593 (Spring 2016) -
Internship
ARH 693 (Spring 2016) -
Sp Topic Archaeology
ANTH 395A (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- More infoFirst author, with Kyle W. Mahoney; Appendix by Dimitris Tambakopoulos and Yannis Maniatis, Beth Shean Studies: Aspects of Religion, History, Art, and Archaeology in Hellenistic and Roman Nysa-Scythopolis. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society Vol. 112, part 2. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society Press, 2024. Under contract since 19 October 2021. 252 pages, 68 illustrations. Forthcoming February/March 2024. (peer-reviewed)
Chapters
Journals/Publications
Presentations
Others
- More infoEncyclopedia entry (with co-author Jack L. Davis), in hard copy and online. Revised 2nd edition.
Creative Works
- “The Monument Landscape and Associated Geology at the Sanctuary of Zeus on Mt. Lykaion"; Print publication; Bretschneider; September 2015; Proceedings of ASMOSIA X International Conference, “La Sapienza,” Universita di Roma
- Catalogue Entries on Roman Sculpture from Tel Batna, Syria and sculptures from unknown sites; print publication; DeGruyter, Germany; May 2021; Sculptures from Roman Syria (SFRS), Vol. 2: The Marble Statuary.; Edited by D. Kreikenborn, T.M. Weber, Mustafa Kocak, and K.-U. Mahler
- “Old World Meets New World: Biography of an Egyptian Collection in the Sonoran Desert"; Print journal; Southwest Center, University of Arizona; June 2016; Journal of the Southwest; A history of the Egyptian collection of the Arizona State Museum with particular emphasis on the motivations for forming such a collection in a museum devoted to the cultures of the Southwest and on the intersection of Old World archaeology with American archaeology and the formation of the discipline of Southwest Archaeology.
- Villa and Temple. Nemus: Villa Nemorensi (the Villa of Julius Caesar?) and the Sanctuary of Diana Nemorensis (Lake Nemi, Italy),; Print and online publication; Cambridge U. Press; February 2017; Gardens of the Roman Empire; Accepted for publication.
- “A Ptolemaic Royal Portrait in the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona"; online journal; Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections (JAEI); April 2014; Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections (JAEI)