Navigation

Art historians of the medieval past are often required to conduct research within archives that were not designed for art historical research. The development of online databases are gradually revolutionising the study of medieval art, however, art historians of the medieval past must still frequently contend with generations of afterlives, layers of bureaucracy and confounding archival systems which rarely prioritise the visual. Working within these spaces presents both challenges and exciting opportunities for original interventions. This panel would invite papers that reflect on the experience of conducting art historical research in archives that were not designed with art historians in mind.

This session aims to foster a productive discussion about the intricacies of art historical research and the position of archives therein. The 90-minute session will consist of five 10-minute presentations, followed by a round table discussion and Q&A. Presentations will reflect on: a single archival encounter, object, institution or methodological problem and will raise issues that will form the basis of a generative broader conversation between panellists and with the audience. Possible topics may include: discussion of working with unillustrated catalogues, the challenges of studying material that is still ‘active’ in a religious context, or the complexities which surround the creation of digital archives. We hope the session will touch upon medieval archives and objects from across periods and geographies and we define ‘archive’ in the broadest possible terms, to include both digital and physical collections.