Faculty News – Joanne Snow-Smith

Originally posted on 18 Dec 09:

The SoA learned this week that Joanne Snow-Smith (Professor Emeritus, Art History) passed away in mid-October. She received her PhD from University of California/Los Angeles in 1976 and came to the UW in 1981. Snow-Smith’s specialty was Italian Renaissance art. Many former students fondly remember her classes and lectures, which often started with period music. She also led the Art History Seminar in Rome several times; through her contacts at the Vatican, she was once able to arrange a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel for the UW president and his family. Snow-Smith last taught during Autumn Quarter 2006 and retired in spring 2008. During her time at the SoA, she published two books (The Salvator Mundi of Leonardo da Vinci in 1982 and The Primavera of Sandro Botticelli: A Neoplatonic Interpretation in 1993) as well as numerous articles and book chapters. Snow-Smith also shared her wide-ranging research by regularly presenting papers at professional meetings. After leaving Seattle, she lived in Simi Valley, California, and then Kapaa, Hawaii. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, two step-daughters, five grandchildren, and five step-grandchildren. Photographs of her are on the are on the SoA’s Facebook page (no Facebook account required to view this).