Academy and workshop: medieval transmission of late antique knowledge
'Artists' knowledge' can be considered as 'the specialist knowledge artists used ... more 'Artists' knowledge' can be considered as 'the specialist knowledge artists used to make their art'. This paper argues that in the Middle Ages there was a two-way exchange of knowledge between atelier and academy. Material from encyclopedias became incorporated in technical literatura, while technical texts were extracted and adapted for encyclopedis purposes. Craft knowledge was absorbed by 'natural philosophers', as technical treatises entered the library as works of general intelectual interest. It can thus be difficult to establish whether a given art technological source text was used or was intended for use within an atelier, or was in fact a para-literary production. Examples are presented of art technical sources embedded within more encyclopedic works. Rarer are examples of texts of non-artisanal intent that are incorporated into craft text. In each case, texts exhibit characteristic reworking to suit the new readership. Vitruvius' "De architectura", the "Schedula diversarum artium", the "De proprietatibus rerum", the Avranches manuscript, and part of the Heraclius treatise provide good examples of this peculiar relationship between craft treatise and encyclopedia. The relationship between craft treatise and encyclopedia is neither clear nor one-directional -there is often a difference between the intention of the original text and its eventual use.
The Reconstruction of Papyrus Manufacture: A Preliminary Investigation
Studies in Conservation, 1989
AbstractPapyrus has been one of the most important materials in history. Since the eleventh centu... more AbstractPapyrus has been one of the most important materials in history. Since the eleventh century the secrets of its manufacture have been lost. No unambiguous primary text discussing the making of papyrus is known to exist. Recent experiments have resulted in two different reconstructions of the process of papyrus manufacture. Study with light microscopy and SEM was conducted in order to investigate these methods. Characteristic features of papyrus of different manufacture are described. The study revealed the possibility of distinguishing between the two proposed reconstructions in the examination of extant papyri.
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Papers by Arie Wallert