Mellon Research Initiative Reading Group

In conjunction with the IFA/Mellon Research Initiative, this reading group provided the opportunity for students to discuss key texts related to the series of Mellon symposia and the themes identified with each. Beginning spring 2012 and continued throughout the life of the Mellon Initiative, the group met approximately three times per semester and was led by faculty advisors. Visiting scholars were occasionally invited to join the group. The aim was to provide a relaxed and congenial forum for discussing conceptual and methodological issues across the fields of art history, archaeology, and conservation science, and to enable a deeper engagement in the Mellon symposia. Meetings may occasionally take place at a museum or collection to consider specific objects in relation to assigned texts. An informal dinner followed the reading group. Students at any point in their studies were welcome to attend.

The group was convened by Robert Slifkin