An emeritus professor of art history at the University of Oxford has been honoured for his services to Italian culture.

Martin Kemp received the insignia of Ufficiale of the Ordine della Stella d’Italia in London on Wednesday, November 6.

The award, known in English as the Order of the Star of Italy, recognises foreigners or Italians abroad who have helped to promote good relations and cooperation between Italy and other countries.

The Italian ambassador, Inigo Lambertini, presented the award to professor Kemp on behalf of the Italian President of the Republic.

Professor Kemp, who trained in natural sciences and art history, has made significant academic contributions on Italian Renaissance art and Leonardo da Vinci.

His publications include 'The Marvellous Works of Nature and Man' and 'Leonardo'.

Professor Kemp has also played a role in curating a number of significant exhibitions and has been a familiar face on various broadcasts.

His other books include 'Behind the Picture: Art and Evidence in the Italian Renaissance', 'The Science of Art', 'The Human Animal in Western Art and Science', 'Mona Lisa', and 'Leonardo’s Salvator Mundi', as well as 'Visions of Heaven: Dante and the Art of Divine Light' and 'The Life of Leonardo da Vinci: Giorgio Vasari and Living with Leonardo'. 

Essays he has written for Nature have been published as visualizations and developed in Seen and Unseen, and as Structural Intuitions.