ARA student’s new book brings Siena’s Renaissance architecture to life

ARA student Mercedes Cirfi Walton has realized her passion for art and architecture with the publication of her new book, L'architettura di Antonio Federighi - The Architecture of Antonio Federighi. The launch took place at the Palazzo Pubblico (City Hall) in Siena, Italy on December 21, where she celebrated with her many friends, family members and colleagues.

Mercedes was encouraged to publish her research by Italian scholars in Siena after reading her 1996 thesis on Antonio Federighi and his pivotal role in introducing the Renaissance style to the city during the 15th century. Among other noteworthy achievements, Federighi was also the personal architect to Pope Pius II, considered to be one of the greatest humanist pontiffs  in history.

Her new “masterpiece” published by Betti Editori (ISBN: 9788875761462) is now available in the New York through Michael Shamansky, Booksellers Inc.  “For Siena to come to North America and ask me to publish was a great honour and showed me that my work was worthwhile,” she says.

Having entered the world of publishing, Mercedes says she is anxious to get back and continue her studies on Siena’s rich Renaissance history. “It’s so rare to explore something from the 1400s that no one has studied before. This has been a wonderful experience.”

Mercedes is currently looking for a Canadian distributer for her book. If you have any enquiries, or would like to know when her book launch will take place in Toronto, please contact her at: pantheon.group@sympatico.ca