The Penn State Society for the Study of Religion is hosting a seminar next Thursday, Sept. 22, from 12:15-1:15 pm in 102 Weaver! Prof. Elizabeth B. Smith will present “What Exactly is Dominican about the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence?” All are invited. A light lunch will be served; the zoom link is available upon request (please email tuh14@psu.edu if interested).
Elizabeth Smith received her M.A. and Ph.D. from New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. It was before then, however, during four years at the University of Strasbourg in France, while earning a Licence Histoire de l’Art et Archéologie, that she came to know and love the medieval architecture of France. Subsequent lengthy periods of residence in England, Belgium and Italy strengthened and broadened her interest in medieval architectural design and construction. The opportunity to teach, over a period of many years, a survey of ancient and medieval architecture for the students of Penn State’s School of Architecture allowed her to deepen her understanding of structural imperatives in the creation of the large-scale vaulted structures of the Middle Ages. This talk, based on a close study of the design and construction of the Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, is derived from her forthcoming book, Building Santa Maria Novella: Materials, Tradition and Invention in Late Medieval Florence.
Please also note these future SSR talks:
October:
Oct. 19, 12:15-1:15 – Vineeta Yadav, “Religious Parties and the Politics of Civil Liberties: Evidence from Muslim-Majority Countries.” Location: 240 Borland
November:
Nov. 10, 12:15-1:15 – Robert Jones, Title TBA.
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