The art and architectural historian Giulio Carlo Argan (1909-1992) played a major role in Italy's cultural life for six decades - in his scholarly work and cultural criticism, his direction of academic and state institutions and his roles as mayor of Rome (1976-1979) and as senator of the Italian Republic (1983-1992). The paucity of English translations of Argan's writings has long obscured this influential body of work for Anglo-American readers. Addressing this lacuna, the 14 essays gathered in this volume trace Argan's confrontation with some of the key actors, movements and problems of modern art and architecture