Research

My research takes a highly interdisciplinary approach to investigate fundamental social, ethical, economic and technological issues that concern our contemporary society through the lens of Renaissance humanism.

The focus of my doctoral studies centres on the works of the Italian Renaissance polymath, Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472). My thesis examines the concept of loyalty in Alberti’s humanist philosophy and the influence on Alberti’s moral and literary identity. The advent of humanism in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries stimulated a renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman texts, and the moral values which were discussed in those works. The classical sources of Cicero, Seneca and Quintilian, whom Alberti primarily draws upon in his works, held loyalty (Latin ‘fides’) to be the most important moral virtue. Loyalty was considered to be at the core of the model of Roman civic virtue, and essential to the stable and efficient operation of all aspects of Roman political, commercial and familial life. Yet, despite the emphasis on classical virtues in early Renaissance culture, and the frequent reference to loyalty throughout Alberti’s texts, the study of the concept of loyalty in Alberti’s works has been overlooked to date. The principal aim of my thesis research is to conduct the first structured analysis of Alberti’s moral theory of loyalty and to establish the importance of an ethical framework of loyalty to his philosophy and identity as a writer. I examine Alberti’s representations of loyalty across his literary and technical works, including De iure (1437), Apologi centum (1437), Canis (1438), Musca (c.1442-43), De equo animante (c. 1444-50), I libri della famiglia (c. 1433-40), Vita (c. 1438), Momus (c. 1443-50), and De iciarchia (c. 1465). My thesis presents the principles of loyalty which emerge in Alberti’s work in a cohesive theory as a forerunner to modern doctrines of loyalty, such as The Philosophy of Loyalty (1908) by Josiah Royce (1855-1916), to underscore the significance of Alberti to the history of loyalty in Western thinking.

I am a graduate in Modern Languages (Italian) from Balliol College, University of Oxford, where I studied for my BA Hons degree and Master of Studies degree in European Literature with research on the works of Leon Battista Alberti. Like Alberti, I continued my studies in the field of law to qualify as a lawyer, specializing in intellectual property, innovation and technology matters. My active interest is in thought leadership and academic scholarship, where my research and teaching focus is on loyalty, innovation and originality. I have been invited to speak at a number of international academic and industry conferences on innovation, and regularly publish articles in international journals and publications.

Academic activities

I am the Early Modern Co-ordinator and Treasurer of the Italian Research Seminar series of the University of Oxford Italian Sub-faculty for 2025/26. I lead the program for inviting visiting academics and distinguished scholars whose research covers the late medieval and renaissance period to present their work to the faculty and stimulate discussion.

Selected Publications

Articles 

‘Redefining originality in Alberti’s ‘mosaic’ for judicial determination in De iure (1437)’, Albertiana, 27 (n.s. 10).1, 2025 (forthcoming)

‘Martin McLaughlin and his Studies on Leon Battista Alberti: Perspectives on a Legacy’, Modern Language Review, 105.4, October 2025 (forthcoming)

Translations

‘Peter Philips’ Magnum Opus: Tribute to an actress’, with Lionel Pike, (forthcoming, 2025)

Seminars and Conference Papers

University of Oxford Italian Research Seminar, ‘Reputation as social capital: the economy of ‘fama’ in I libri della famiglia (1433-43)’, 16 June 2025

The 16th Annual Harvard-Brown Graduate Student Conference in Italian Studies: Chiasmi 2025, ‘The Elements of Justice in Leon Battista Alberti’s De iure (1437)’, 4 April 2025

Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting 2025, ‘Innovative Designs for Justice: Leon Battista Alberti’s De iure (1437)’, 22 March 2025

University of Oxford Italian Research Seminar, ‘Leon Battista Alberti’s theory on cultivating loyalty in the civil context’, 10 June 2024

University of Oxford Italian Research Seminar, ‘The Ethics of Loyalty: decoding the loyalty gene in the works of Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472)’, 12 June 2023

Awards & Scholarships

Isaiah Berlin Fund Bursary Award

Fondazione ‘Centro Studi di Leon Battista Alberti’ Scholarship

Balliol College Pathfinder Student Ambassador Award to the USA

Balliol College Brassey Prize

Balliol College Brassey Scholarship

Teaching

University of Oxford, Final Honours School of Modern Languages, Paper IIA (Italian Translation) Classes

University of Oxford, Final Honours School of Modern Languages, Paper III (Pre-Modern Italian Translation) Tutorials

University of Oxford, Final Honours School of Modern Languages, Paper VII (Literature 1430-1635) Tutorials

Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Business, City University of Macau