A survey of the painted frieze in Rome from the pre-Christian era to the 1630s shows that it had been a significant ornamentation for the interiors of buildings in Rome, in the sixteenth century becoming the major decoration for palaces of Roman nobility, an important conduit for narrative and heraldic information necessary to a family's prestige and social role. After 1560 the requirements of Catholic Reform and theoretical texts such as G.B. Armenini's treatise On the True Precepts of Painting influenced developments in both style and subject. Moralising messages simultaneously contained meanings specific to the patron. In addition, the genre of landscape became a popular subject capable of expressing spiritual ideals. The thesis then focuses on the Palazzo Pamphilj in Piazza Navona, Rome, where Giambattista Pamphilj commissioned ten narrative fresco friezes in two phases, originally to mark his promotion to cardinal (1629-1644), then to celebrate his ascendancy to the papal throne as Innocent X (1644-1655). Little has been written on the decorative programme and the thesis seeks to explain why Rome's leading patron adopted the 'old-fashioned' frieze when a more 'modern' form of decoration, the illusionistically painted barrel-vaulted ceiling, had been chosen by Innocent's predecessor, Urban VIII Barberini (1623-1644), whose family residence appeared likely to set new trends. Art historical problems of style, iconography, dating, attribution and patronage are addressed throughout.

Thesis (MFA)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 37).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / One folded leaf of plans in pocket. Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-124). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (doctoral)--School of Design and Crafts (HDK), Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts, Göteborg University, Göteborg, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-129).

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, (1961?). / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-53).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-67). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1993. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaf [30]).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-183). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 246-251).

Thesis (doctoral)--Uppsala universitet. / Summary in German, abstract in English. Includes indexes. Includes bibliographical references (p. [531]-538).