Completed PhD Theses

Rows of art history volumes on the shelves of the ĢƵ Library. Reading Lists for Staff

PhD Theses completed in 2025

Mansi, Marco, Ketty Gottardo, Guido Rebecchini, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Florentine Drawing Books (ca. 1500–1600) : Shaping a Landscape Tradition.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2025., 2025.

Melin, Laura, Alixe Bovey, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Art of Persuasion : Usurpation and Legitimisation on Fifteenth-Century English Genealogical Rolls.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2025., 2025.

PhD Theses completed in 2024

Pickering, Rose, David Peters Corbett, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Édouard Vuillard’s Representations of Women, 1890-1940 : Modernity, Femininity and Proust.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Squires, Margaret, Sussan Babaie, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Woven Ground : The Safavid Carpet in Architectural Context, 1501–1722.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Kessler, Carla, Lucy Bradnock, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Unofficial Evidence : Expanding the Archives of Performance, Installation, and Socially-Engaged Art since the 1970s.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Rodríguez, Ana Gabriela, Klara Kemp-Welch, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Puerto Rican Graphic Arts and the Cold War : Bridging Workshops and Crossing Borders, 1950-1970.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Denysova, Katia, Klara Kemp-Welch, Sarah Wilson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Fragmented Identities : Between Cosmopolitanism and Nationalism in Ukraine’s Early Twentieth-Century Art.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Adams, Harry Anthony, Christine Stevenson, Esther Chadwick, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “George Dance the Younger’s Urban Planning for the City of London, 1768–1816.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Fabiano, Giosuè, Joanna Cannon, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Natural Lighting, Art and Temporal Experience : In Late Medieval and Early Renaissance Italian Churches (c.1100-1427).” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Darnell, Lorne Girard, Joanna Woodall, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Pride and Beauty of This Land : Building Holland’s Identity through the Architectural Imagery of Pieter Saenredam.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Ohl, Lydia, Wenny Teo, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Before and after : Cai Guo-Qiang’s Practice of Creation through Destruction Inselected Projects Produced between the Retrospectives I Want to Believe (2008) and Odyssey and Homecoming (2020).” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 20., 2024.

Gatta, Lorenzo, Joanna Woodall, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Jesuit Confessionals in the Early Modern Southern Netherlands : Design, Space, Materiality.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Giusa, Anna Chiara, Guido Rebecchini, Tanja Michalsky, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Politics of Style : Artistic ‘Bilingualism’ in Messina during the First Half of the Sixteenth Century.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Jenkins, Laura C, Katie Scott, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Civilising Decoration : French Interiors in the American Gilded Age.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

David, Alice, Klara Kemp-Welch, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Cultures of Resistance : Graphic Art and the Avant-Garde in 1970s’ Latin America.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Morale, Giulia, Sarah Wilson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Sicilian Abstraction and Transnational Modernism in Italy and beyond (1950s-1970s).” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Kazarian, Choghakate, David Peters Corbett, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Unquicken the Pace : Albert Pinkham Ryder’s Ripening Paintings.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Guo, Sophie Xiaofei, Wenny Teo, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Bio-Imaginaries : The Art of China and Its Diasporas in the Age of Biotechnology.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Chirumbolo, Matteo, Scott Nethersole, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Family Lexicon : The Patronage of Girolamo Basso and Domenico Della Rovere between Turin, Savona, Loreto And Rome, 1477-1507.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

Evans-Hill, Lily Kathleen, Catherine Grant, Althea Greenan, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Feminist Group-Work : The Emergence of the Women Artists Slide Library, 1970-1982.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2024., 2024.

PhD Theses completed in 2023

Cummings, Andrew J, Wenny Teo, Sook-Kyung Lee, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Alien : Queerness, Globalisation, and Contemporary ‘Asian’ Art, 2013-2023.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2023., 2023.

Pu, Lan, Christian Luczanits, Stephen H Whiteman, Giovanni Verri, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Connections in the Making and Meaning of Bhutanese Wall Painting : Tango Utse, 17th – 20th Century.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2023., 2023.

Lewandowski, Helen, Julian Stallabrass, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Aesthetics and Distribution of Photojournalism, 2000 to 2020.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2023., 2023.

Rubin, Saskia, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Status and Statehood in the Art and Literature of Richelieu’s Circle, 1628–1656.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2023., 2023.

Menon, Sreekumar, Aviva Burnstock, Emily Howe, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Early Period Buddhist Wall Paintings of Ladakh from the Eleventh to the Early Thirteenth Century : Materials, Techniques and Conservation Implications.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2023., 2023.

Wilmott, Francesca, Jo Applin, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Far out California : A New Regionalism, 1966–1976.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2023., 2023.

Feeke, Stephen, David Peters Corbett, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Midlife Materiality : Barbara Hepworth and Bronze.” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2023., 2023.

Lane, Teresa, John Lowden, Alixe Bovey, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “‘A Sublime Mystery’ : The Trinity in the Visual, Intellectual and Devotional Culture of England, 950–1150.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2023., 2023.

PhD Theses completed in 2022

D’Antone, Ambra, Gavin Parkinson, Matthew Gale, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Translating Modernity : Surrealism of the Levant.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Jones, Olivia, Caroline Arscott, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “‘None Sees Here but the Pure Alone’ : Crystal Balls and Queer Desire in the Oeuvre of Simeon Solomon (1840-1905).” Dissertation (M.A.)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Dhar, Sanjay, Christine Stevenson, Emily Howe, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Assessing and Managing Risk : Towards a Framework for Preventive Conservation of Buddhist Wall Paintings in the Leh Valley of Ladakh.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Mackelaitė, Austėja, Joanna Woodall, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Encounters through Drawing : Three Netherlandish Artists Responding to Ancient Sculpture in Sixteenth-Century Rome.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Flory, Nicholas Piers, Susie Nash, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “’Pro Æterna Salute Dominæ Ducissæ’ : The Carthusian Patronage of Isabella of Portugal and Margaret of York, Duchesses of Burgundy, 1430-1503.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Corbett, Cathy, Christopher Green, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “A Russian Sculptor Abroad : Ossip Zadkine and His Works in Wood, 1908-1937.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Christensen, Emily, Gavin Parkinson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Refiguring Kandinsky : Strategies of Orientalism in Wassily Kandinsky’s Experimental Abstraction.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Rava, Amarilli, Emma Richardson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Assessment of Organic Adhesives, Using the Examples of Gelatine and JunFunori : Penetration, Deposition and Response to Humidity.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Chohan, Jasmine Kaur, Julian Stallabrass, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “La Bienal de La Habana : The Rise of the Collaterals.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Geddes, June, Sarah Wilson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Richard Demarco : Networking Scotland to the International Avant-Garde.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Pierce, Chelsea, Sarah Wilson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Gorgona Paradigm : Private Art Practice in Socialist Yugoslavia.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Payet, Erica, Julian Stallabrass, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Photography in the First Gulf War (1990–91).” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Zamboni, Alice, Joanna Woodall, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Bringing the Muscles to Life : Artists, Anatomists and the Negotiation of the Graphic Anatomical Image in the Dutch Republic.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Shadwick, Louis, David Peters Corbett, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Memory and Myth : Edward Hopper and American Identity, 1882-1940.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Scantlebury, Matilda, Jo Applin, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Being Together with Others : Queer American Art and the Family, 1990-2020.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

Noelle, Alexander J, Scott Nethersole, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Life, Death, and Afterlife of Giuliano de’ Medici in Art and Literature (1450–1600).” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2022., 2022.

PhD Theses completed in 2021

Subelytė, Gražina, Parkinson Gavin, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Kurt Seligmann : Surrealism and Occultism.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

O’Brien, Janet, Sussan Babaie, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Nādir Shāh : The Emergence of Royal Portraiture and a New Body Politic in Eighteenth-Century Iran.” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

Merkling, Emma, Caroline Arscott, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Imponderable : Physics, Mathematics, Psychical Research, and Evelyn De Morgan’s Spiritualist Art, 1885–1910.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

Concin, Adriana, Guido Rebecchini, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Habsburg-Medici Wedding of 1565 : Art, Diplomacy, and Display.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

Bondini, Saida, Nicolas Bock, Guido Rebecchini, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Urban and Social Spaces : Art, Architecture, and Family Patronage in Bologna (1470-1520).” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

Amato, Silvia Rita, Aviva Burnstock, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Contribution of Reflectance Imaging Spectroscopy and Macro X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy in the Investigation of Paintings by Édouard Manet from the ĢƵ Gallery.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

Harrison, Madeleine, David Peters Corbett, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Aaron Douglas’ ‘Art Era,’ 1925-34.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

Crosland, Margaret Susannah, Alixe Bovey, Susie Nash, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Servans Tous Les Jours : Devotion, Interaction, and Familial Piety in the Grandes Heures of Philip the Bold.” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

Sanders, Laura, Joanna Woodall, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “The Image of the Tower in Early Modern Antwerp.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2021., 2021.

PhD Theses completed in 2020

Stolyarov, Denis, Sarah Wilson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “(Post)-Soviet Art in the Era of Wild Capitalism, 1985-1995.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Beltrami, Costanza Ludovica, Tom Nickson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Juan Guas and Gothic Architecture in Late-Medieval Spain : Collaborations, Networks, Geographies.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Leam, Sooyoung, Sarah Wilson, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Lee Seung-Taek : The Making and Unmaking of Sculpture in Contemporary Korean Art.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Biedarieva, Svitlana, Klara Kemp-Welch, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Challenging the Legacies of the Olympics : Cultural Programmes of Mexico ‘68 and Moscow ‘80.” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Dalvit, Giulio, Scott Nethersole, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Rethinking Lorenzo Di Pietro, Known as Vecchietta (Siena, 1410-80).” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Delorey, Amanda Kate, Julian Stallabrass, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Modernist Planning and Informal Settlements : The History of Social Housing Architecture in Mexico City.” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Godetzky, Albert, Joanna Woodall, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Strength and Sinews : ‘Haarlem Mannerism’ and the Emergence of a Dutch Body Politic, 1585-1595.” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Gurevich, Sofia, Klara Kemp-Welch, Matthew Gale, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Soviet Book Design and the World of Art Circle, 1917–1930.” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Morris, Natasha Anne, Sussan Babaie, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Lions and Sons : The Masculine Image in Qajar Iran (1789 –1925).” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Ayres de Campos, Miguel, John Lowden, Alixe Bovey, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Mirabilia Depicta : Image and Imagination in the Anglo-Saxon Wonders of the East.” Dissertation (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

Röstel, Alexander, Scott Nethersole, and ĢƵ Institute of Art. “Artistic Patronage Networks in Fifteenth-Century Florence : The Corbinelli and Gondi Altarpieces.” Thesis (PhD)–University of London (ĢƵ Institute of Art), 2020., 2020.

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