Description
Who really built Europe’s finest Romanesque monuments? Abbots and bishops presiding over holy sites receive mentions aplenty throughout history, while their highly skilled creators remain anonymous. But the buildings speak for themselves.
In Islamesque: The Forgotten Craftsmen Who Built Europe’s Medieval Monuments , Middle East cultural historian Diana Darke explores the evidence embedded in medieval monasteries, churches and castles across Europe, from Mont Saint-Michel and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to Durham Cathedral and the Basilica of Santiago de Compostela. Tracing the origins of key decorative and architectural innovations during this pre-Gothic period—acknowledged as the essential foundation of all future European construction styles—she sheds new light on the mystery masons, carpenters and sculptors behind these masterpieces.
Diana Darke has spent four decades in the Middle East. Her books include Stealing from the Saracens, My House in Damascus and The Ottomans. A non-resident scholar at Washington DC’s Middle East Institute, she holds degrees in Arabic and in Islamic Art and Architecture.
Joining the conversation is Andrew Ziminksi, who has just published Church Going: A Stonemason’s Guide to the Churches of the British Isles. This fascinating talk will delve into both books, exploring how we can see ‘the hand of Islam’ in churches all over the country and explore the origins of medieval church architecture. Andrew Ziminski is a stonemason, church conservator and author. He has four decades of experience working on some of the greatest cathedrals and churches in Britain, including the tower of Salisbury Cathedral and the dome of St Paul’s.
Ticket price includes a glass of wine or a soft drink.