'Windows into Christian Art' - A lecture series by Canon Professor Michelle Brown

About this programme

This survey of Christian art, written and led by Professor Emerita Michelle Brown (author of The Lion Companion to Christian Art), embraces much of the history of art in the West, and touches upon other parts of the world where the Bible has played a major part in local culture.

Six sessions cannot provide comprehensive coverage of such a vast subject, but they will give participants a flavour of the scope of the subject by exploring a range of ‘snapshots’ of Christian Art through the centuries

We will consider the role of art in Christianity: in exploring and commenting upon its meaning; in digging deeper into the text; in teaching, inspiring devotion and providing a focus for contemplation and prayer.

There will be discussion of the ways in which art responds to Scripture in different periods and social contexts throughout history and a shared appreciation of the spiritual responses that we, and others, may make to Christian artworks now.

SESSION TOPICS

The 6 talks (3 each day) will follow a chronological sequence:

1.    The Early Christian Period, c.100-800 AD
2.    The Medieval Period, c.800-1500
3.    The Renaissance, c.1300-1550
4.    Reformation and Counter-Reformation, c.1500-1750
5.    Enlightenment, Mysticism and Romanticism, c.1750-1900
6.    Modern & Contemporary Art, c. 1900 to the present

Event details

Date: Friday 8th November continued on Friday 15th November.

Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Schedule for each day:

• 10:00-11:00 - Talk #1: 
• 11:00-11:30 - Refreshments break
• 11:30-12:30 - Talk #2
• 12:30-14:00 - Lunch break (lunch is provided, and we ask our students to book their own lunch)
• 14:00-15:00 - Talk #3

Venue: Wycliffe Hall, 54 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PW

Getting here: Wycliffe Hall is on major bus routes. Limited parking may be available on site on a first-come-first-served basis (please contact us by email if you have any special access requirements). Pay-and-display on-street parking is available close by in Norham Gardens. 

Booking: There is no charge for the event and it is open to the public. However, please register to attend (even if you are a member of Wycliffe), so we can ensure we have lunch for you. We ask our students to book their lunch in the standard way.

Other info: No prior knowledge of the topic is required.

About Michelle Brown

Michelle P. Brown FSA is Professor Emerita at the School of Advanced Study (SAS), University of London, and Visiting Professor at University College London.

From 1986-2004 she was Curator of Medieval and Illuminated Manuscripts at the British Library, and from 2005-2009 was one of its first digital curators while also acting as course tutor to the History of the Book MA at SAS, where from 2005 to 2012 she was Professor of Medieval Manuscript Studies.

She then moved to W Cornwall and spends part of the year researching and lecturing, directing, and teaching intensive courses (including London Rare Book School), curating exhibitions and undertaking voluntary work.

She has been Visiting Professor at Baylor University, Senior Researcher at the University of Oslo, Lay Canon and Chapter Member at St Paul’s Cathedral, Lay Canon at Truro Cathedral and is a Lay Worship Leader.

Her publications include the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Luttrell Psalter, the Holkham Bible, the Lion Companion to Christian Art and Bede and the Theory of Everything.

She has broadcast widely and curated major exhibitions, including ‘The transformation of the Roman world’ (ESF, BM and BL), ‘Painted labyrinth: the world of the Lindisfarne Gospels’ (BL), and ‘“In the beginning”: Bibles before the year 1000’ (Smithsonian).  She advised on the Museum of the Bible and often participates in Logos. She is currently advising the Archbishop of York on Faith in the North.

 Register to attend

Online registration is now closed. If you would like to attend, please email conferences@wycliffe.ox.ac.uk

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you.