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Obituaries (from SPBS Newsletter 2006) Professor Dr. Natela Aladashvili (1923-2006) On 6 January, 2006 a well-known Georgian art historian, Prof. Dr. Natela Aladashvili, one of the leading members of G. Chubinashvili Institute of History of Georgian Art, passed away. Prof. N. Aladashvili, guided by George Chubinashvili (founder of the art historical science in Georgia) and Renee Schmerling, began her scholarly activities in 1950s, focusing on two major directions in her research work – history of the medieval Georgian architectural sculpture and mural painting. Her monograph on the 11th c. reliefs of the Nikortsminda cathedral (1957), as well as a generalizing monograph on the 5th-11th cc. Georgian sculptural decorations (1977), together with numerous publications on various problems of the medieval Georgian architectural sculpture, has given firm basis to the study of this significant branch of the medieval Georgian art. Equally important are Prof. N. Aladashvili’s works on the history of the Georgian murals, namely: monographs (in collaboration with other scholars) on mural decorations by the Royal Painter Tevdore (1966), the painting school of Svaneti (1983), the exterior mural decorations of Svanish churches (1987), as well as an art historical guidebook on the medieval art in Svaneti (2000). Apart from these, she had left us most valuable publications on various issues of iconography and style of the medieval Georgian painting. Prof. N. Aladashvili’s books and articles, which reveal peculiarities of the Georgian monuments in the wide context of the East Christian, Byzantine and Western European art, make a considerable contribution to the study and better understanding of not only Georgian, but medieval Christian art and culture in general. Dr. Teimuraz Sakvarelidze Professor Philip Grierson (Dublin 1910-Cambridge 2006) Sometimes they speak to us in dreams; 26th January 2006, Cambridge. Along Trinity Street a large, silent crowd gathered in the crisp, sunny morning; eighteen-year old undergraduates rubbing shoulders with eminent college dons and university professors of advanced age, all there to say goodbye to a mutual friend. Philip Grierson’s coffin, covered in the Caius and Gonville College flag paused briefly in the street so often Philip crossed on his way to the library, afternoon seminars and the Fitzwilliam Museum. The bell rang 95 times, a reminder of the transient and precious gift of life. In the private ceremony that followed, I looked around in disbelief. Philip claimed he had no religious convictions; yet this was the closest to a monastic setting I had ever experienced. In contrast to my Greek-style lament, College fellows mourned in silence the departure of the oldest and finest member of their community. Philip Grierson is not with us any more, and it is quite surreal to write about him in the past tense, especially as his scholarship, collection, and influence in many people’s lives remain as enduring as ever. Philip Grierson, Emeritus Professor of Numismatics in the Universities of Cambridge and Brussels, Honorary Keeper of the Department of Coins & Medals, Fitzwilliam Museum, Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Advisor in Byzantine Numismatics, Dumbarton Oaks (1953-1998), FBA and FSA, and winner of the British Academy 2005 Derek Allen Prize (numismatics), was one of the most prolific, influential and engaging scholars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. His research interests, superb coin collection, now deposited in the Fitzwilliam Museum, teaching and publications extend across western medieval Europe, Byzantium and the Levant. Yet Philip has been much more than this, and his life is a fine example of how first-rate scholarship is not incompatible with sports, culture, humour, generosity of heart and spirit, in short love of life. His departure leaves a huge void in Byzantine and western medieval studies, and challenges us to reflect on the ever-evolving area of academic teaching and mentoring. At a time when universities reexamine their commitment and strategies for research and teaching, it might be helpful to remember that Philip Grierson’s unique appeal to students and young scholars is related to his role as didaskalos. And didaskaloi never really die. They are always there to lift low spirits, inspire us in our daily work, and help us retain focus on the things that really matter in life. Eurydice S. Georganteli Jean Irigoin Jean Irigoin (the name is of French Basque origin) established himself in Paris as one of the leading French specialists in Greek palaeography over fifty years ago with his study of the textual history of Pindar (1952). Editions of Bacchylides and Euripides (Bacchae) followed, and by 1972 he was the author of the Règles et recommandations pour les éditions critiques adopted by the Guillaume Budé series. He was convinced that a sound knowledge of both palaeography and philology were essential. In the former field he made his name with (among other articles) a study of the Viennese manuscript of Aristotle (JÖBG, 1957), and, more important still, his survey of the major centres of manuscript production in the Byzantine world (articles in Scriptorium, 1958 and 59). He showed a special interest in types of paper (with our without watermarks); this evidence could be used for dating manuscripts (thus his contribution to the 1983 Berlin Colloquium on Palaeography). But he also identified the Coptic style of uncials (1959) and the 10th c. minuscule bouletée (in the Paris Colloquium of 1977). A small dapper man, precise and decisive in manner, he taught for some time at Nanterre, then at the École Pratique des Hautes Études (in the Sorbonne), where his lectures were famous, and drew many students; he would usually begin with critical comments on recent publications, showing extraordinary erudition and critical flair, while at the same time giving strong support to young scholars. Later (from 1986) he held a chair at the Collège de France, and, even if his output seems to have been predominantly in the form of articles (his critical editions apart), he eventually published Le livre grec des origines à la Renaissssance (2001). The principles he established had a great influence on the cataloguing of Greek manuscripts. He was also one of the founder members of the International Committee on Greek Palaeography and regularly attended and contributed to their Colloquia: in the 1998 Cremona Colloquium his contribution bore a title which seems to sum up his work: Deux servantes maîtresses en alternance: Paléographie et Philologie. He died on the 28 January, 2006 in his 86th year; by his teaching and publications he leaves a rich legacy to both Classical and Byzantine scholarship. Joseph A. Munitiz Obituaries from BBBS 2010: Obituaries from BBBS 2009: Obituaries from BBBS 2008: Obituaries from BBBS 2007: Obituaries from BBBS 2005: Obituaries from BBBS
2004: Obituaries from BBBS
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2002: Obituaries from BBBS
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