The use of light in ecclesiastical upper spaces during the Middle Ages
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Monday 11 May 2020
(6 pm) - The Art Workers' Guild, 6 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 3AT
- Lecturer: Toby Huitson
This lecture will explore the various ways in which the upper levels of monastic and parish church buildings were illuminated, from interior devotional lights to tower beacons, using evidence from medieval custumals, chronicles and manuscript sources. An experimental reconstruction will be presented which was staged at Hythe in Kent to discover both the effect and practicality of lighting medieval triforia and clerestories.
Lecturer
Dr Toby Huitson studied history at the University of Kent at Canterbury, gaining his PhD in medieval architecture in 2010, now published as Stairway to Heaven: The Functions of Medieval Upper Spaces. Toby is particularly interested in medieval architecture and music, and wrote the official guidebook to the Organs of Canterbury Cathedral while he was the PA to the Cathedral Organist. He is currently the Digitisation Officer at Canterbury Cathedral Archives.
Event Postponed due to rail strike