Study of the architecture of the medieval Kingdom of Sicily, culminating in the creation of a co-authored book and a digital archive of visual and textual sources. (36 months)
We are applying for a collaborative grant to undertake a study of architecture as an instrument of power and authority in the Medieval Kingdom of Sicily, and to move discussion of this geographical area from a purely European context to that of the medieval Mediterranean world. The project has two components: a co-authored monograph in print with a historical and analytical narrative, and a digital archive of visual and textual sources produced by a research team. The digital archive will include historical documents, bibliography, drawings, prints, paintings, maps, and photographs. Duke University has agreed to provide the technical infrastructure and help us develop a sustainability plan. The catalogue will bring together widely-dispersed materials to document the rich visual culture of Southern Italy.