In Memoriam: Larissa Bonfante (1931–2019)

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Previous articleNext article FreeIn Memoriam: Larissa Bonfante (1931–2019)PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreAtque in perpetuum, soror, ave atque valeWith sadness we share the news of the passing of our colleague Larissa Bonfante, professor emerita of classics at New York University, who served on the advisory board of Source for almost thirty years. Larissa was born in Naples; her father, a professor of linguistics, was compelled to leave Italy because of his antifascist views. She grew up in Princeton and received her PhD at Columbia, studying with the art historian and archaeologist Otto Brendel. In 1993 Larissa organized a special issue of Source focusing on nudity in classical art as a Festschrift in honor of Brendel. Her many publications reflect a wide range of interests, from the history of costume to the barbarian cultures of ancient Europe, but she is best known for her research on the Etruscan civilization, whose language was considered stubbornly indecipherable until she began to work on it. Larissa’s 1983 book The Etruscan Language: An Introduction, coauthored with her father, is still in print and remains the standard manual on this subject. A pioneer of Etruscan studies in the United States, she helped create the Sezione Americana of the venerable Istituto di Studi Etruschi ed Italici in Florence, and was a founder and editor of the Etruscan News. Now in its twenty-first year, this publication keeps US scholars and students informed of new finds, books, events, and conferences, as well as lighter features like Archaeocat, photos of the ubiquitous felines who inhabit ancient ruins in Italy. Remembered by her students as a wonderful instructor and mentor, Larissa received numerous honors, including the Gold Medal of the Archaeological Institute of America, election to the American Philosophical Society, and a Great Teacher Award from New York University. Previous articleNext article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Source Volume 39, Number 2Winter 2020 Sponsored by the Bard Graduate Center, New York Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/706363 © 2020 by Bard Graduate Center. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.