Models and Copies, Masters and Pupils: New Work on Spanish Illuminated Manuscripts in Memory of John Williams
Sponsoring Organization(s)
International Center of Medieval Art (ICMA)
Organizer Name
David Raizman
Organizer Affiliation
Drexel Univ.
Presider Name
Therese Martin
Presider Affiliation
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Paper Title 1
Copies, Originals, and the Impoverishment of Images
Presenter 1 Name
Robert A. Maxwell
Presenter 1 Affiliation
Institute of Fine Arts, New York Univ.
Paper Title 2
Further Perspectives on "A Castilian Tradition of Bible Illustration": Re-examining the Connection between the Bibles of San Isidoro de Leon (960 and 1162)
Presenter 2 Name
Ana Hernandez
Presenter 2 Affiliation
Univ. Complutense de Madrid
Paper Title 3
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Seder: What the "Hispano-Moresque" Haggadah Can Tell Us about Medieval Creativity
Presenter 3 Name
Julie A. Harris
Presenter 3 Affiliation
Spertus Institute
Start Date
13-5-2016 10:00 AM
Session Location
Fetzer 1010
Description
This session centers on copies that depart from their models and pupils who do not always tread directly in the footsteps of their masters. Our point of departure is the inimitable work of John Williams (1928-2015) in the field of illuminated manuscripts, particularly the Beatus Commentaries on the Apocalypse, which has inspired scholars beyond the bounds of Spanish medievalism. Williams broke away from his early training, which held that an unprecedented image must have been based on a lost model. He came rather to recognize originality in medieval works of art and to highlight the previously unperceived agency of illuminators from the early Middle Ages. Our presenters question traditionally-held assumptions of art historical scholarship, particularly concerning illuminations that do not consistently copy their models. We are interested in the choice to deviate from an archetype, especially the ways in which such decisions give rise to provocative new questions about intentionality and audience, likeness and divergence, and scholarly innovations that lead to paradigm shifts.
This session will provide a counterpart to the 90-minute documentary on the Beatus manuscripts, which will be screened at WMU ("Beatus: The Apnish Apocalypse). Featuring extensive commentary and reflections on the Beatus tradition together with related aspects of the art of medieval Spain, John Williams guides the viewers through the development of his thinking on this monastic phenomenon, bringing it up to date with recent discoveries. This ICMA-sponsored session in celebration of John Williams will carry his legacy into the future by stimulating new scholarly debate and continuing his practice of challenging the discipline.
Models and Copies, Masters and Pupils: New Work on Spanish Illuminated Manuscripts in Memory of John Williams
Fetzer 1010
This session centers on copies that depart from their models and pupils who do not always tread directly in the footsteps of their masters. Our point of departure is the inimitable work of John Williams (1928-2015) in the field of illuminated manuscripts, particularly the Beatus Commentaries on the Apocalypse, which has inspired scholars beyond the bounds of Spanish medievalism. Williams broke away from his early training, which held that an unprecedented image must have been based on a lost model. He came rather to recognize originality in medieval works of art and to highlight the previously unperceived agency of illuminators from the early Middle Ages. Our presenters question traditionally-held assumptions of art historical scholarship, particularly concerning illuminations that do not consistently copy their models. We are interested in the choice to deviate from an archetype, especially the ways in which such decisions give rise to provocative new questions about intentionality and audience, likeness and divergence, and scholarly innovations that lead to paradigm shifts.
This session will provide a counterpart to the 90-minute documentary on the Beatus manuscripts, which will be screened at WMU ("Beatus: The Apnish Apocalypse). Featuring extensive commentary and reflections on the Beatus tradition together with related aspects of the art of medieval Spain, John Williams guides the viewers through the development of his thinking on this monastic phenomenon, bringing it up to date with recent discoveries. This ICMA-sponsored session in celebration of John Williams will carry his legacy into the future by stimulating new scholarly debate and continuing his practice of challenging the discipline.