Jeffrey Ruda

Professor Jeffrey Ruda is an esteemed emeritus professor at the Art University of California-Davis, where he has made significant contributions to the field of Italian Renaissance and European Baroque art. With an academic foundation built on a Ph.D. and an M.A. from Harvard University, along with a B.A. from Swarthmore College, Professor Ruda has dedicated his career to the exploration and dissemination of art history knowledge. He joined the Art History Program at UC Davis in 1980 and continued to inspire students and colleagues until his retirement in the fall of 2013. Throughout his illustrious career, Professor Ruda has published extensively on the early Renaissance in Florence, a period that has captivated his scholarly interest. His work has provided invaluable insights into the artistic developments and cultural contexts of this transformative era. Among his notable publications is a monograph on the fifteenth-century painter Fra Filippo Lippi, which has been widely recognized for its depth of research and scholarly rigor. In addition to his focus on the Italian Renaissance, Professor Ruda has also explored the design reform movement in England and France during the mid-to-late nineteenth century. His research in this area has shed light on the intersection of art, design, and societal change, contributing to a broader understanding of European art history. His expertise in European ceramics further complements his diverse research interests, allowing him to approach art history from a multifaceted perspective. Professor Ruda's contributions extend beyond academia, as evidenced by his work on an exhibition catalog of drawings from the Crocker Art Museum. This endeavor highlights his commitment to making art accessible to a wider audience and underscores his belief in the importance of preserving and interpreting historical artworks. His legacy at UC Davis and in the field of art history continues to inspire future generations of scholars and art enthusiasts.