Research

(Il)legibility and Transcultural Scripts in the Image of Late Medieval Italy

Gregor Meinecke | Associate Scholar

My dissertation on "(Il)legibility and Transcultural Scripts in the Image of Late Medieval Italy" examines the widespread presence of Arabic, Hebrew, and other non-Latin writing in paintings of late medieval Central and Northern Italy. I focus on legibility and illegibility, translation and incomprehension in a realm of alphabetic otherness, arguing that inscriptions and pseudo-inscriptions were a deliberate visual instrument to mark sanctity, erudition, cross-cultural contact, or exclusion depending on context. Looking in particular at the coexistence of legible and illegible inscriptions in the same artwork, I analyze many objects and their meanings through comparative exploration, rather than focusing on a single artist, region, or canon. Having built a comprehensive catalog, I map legibility, materiality, and function of scriptural elements across the Mediterranean and beyond.

 

 

Newsletter

Our Newsletter provides you with free information on events, tenders, exhibitions and recent publications from the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz.

If you would like to receive our newsletter, please enter your name and e-mail address:

*required field

Notes on the content of the newsletter and transit procedures

This letter is sent via MailChimp, where your e-mail address and name will be saved for sending the newsletter.

Once you have completed the form, you will receive a "Double-Opt-In-E-Mail," in which you are asked to confirm your registration. You can cancel your subscription to the Newsletter at any time ("Opt-out"). You will find an unsubscribe link in every Newsletter and in the Double-Opt-in-E-Mail.

You will receive detailed information about transit procedures and your withdrawal options in our privacy policy.