PRESS RELEASE
California State University, Fresno
Armenian Studies Program
5245 N Backer Ave PB4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
Tel: 559-278-2669
Fax: 559-278-2129
Dr. Ronald Marchese to Speak at Fresno State on
`Art and Society: Armenian Constantinople'
Dr. Ronald Marchese will discuss his recent research in
Constantinople/Istanbul with a talk on `Art and Society: Armenian
Constantinople' at 7:30 PM on Thursday, January 30, 2014. This Leon
S. Peters Foundation Lecture will be held in the University Business
Center, Alice Peters Auditorium, Room 191, on the Fresno State campus
and is part of the Armenian Studies Program Spring 2014 Lecture
Series.
Dr. Marchese is professor of ancient history and archaeology at the
University of Minnesota, Duluth and has spent the last several years
documenting the rich cultural history of the Armenians in
Constantinople, by studying the works of arts that the Armenians
produced. He will accompany his talk with slides of some of the
artwork that he has catalogued.
Prior to the establishment of the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople, the Armenian population of the city and its
surrounding districts had little visible religious representation.
Those Armenians that existed in the city, perhaps a larger population
than previously believed, adopted Byzantine manners and customs in
order to assimilate to the dominant Greek culture of the city. After
1453 the Armenians of the city grew in number, status, and prestige -
certainly evident in the increased immigration to the city after the
devastation and annexation of eastern Anatolia. In many respects, the
revitalization of the city is due to many reasons, but it is likely
that the energy and creative talents of Armenian immigrants had a
profound affect on this process.
After 1700 this is clearly seen in the second great artistic awakening
of Armenian culture, which defined the `Constantinople Style of
Religious and Secular Art.' The artistic achievements of the Armenian
community are not without a social context. It is through the art of
the Armenian community that much new information about the city's
population is explored as well.
The lecture will present illustrated examples of this `Constantinople
Style.' Dr. Marchese received his Ph.D. from New York University and
has a distinguished career in archaeology, having conducted research
at the Plataiai Archaeological Excavation in Greece and at Tel Dor in
Israel. He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters in the
field. He is an alumnus of California State University, Fresno.
He is the author, together with Marlene Breu, of Splendor and
Spectacle: The Armenian Orthodox Church Textile Collections of
Istanbul (Ã=87itlembik Ltd., Istanbul, 2010).
The lecture is free and open to the public.
Free parking is available in Lots A or J on campus, adjacent to the
University Business Center, only if a parking pass is obtained by
using code 273406 in any of the campus kiosks.
For more information on the lecture please contact the Armenian
Studies Program at 278-2669.
California State University, Fresno
Armenian Studies Program
5245 N Backer Ave PB4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
Tel: 559-278-2669
Fax: 559-278-2129
Dr. Ronald Marchese to Speak at Fresno State on
`Art and Society: Armenian Constantinople'
Dr. Ronald Marchese will discuss his recent research in
Constantinople/Istanbul with a talk on `Art and Society: Armenian
Constantinople' at 7:30 PM on Thursday, January 30, 2014. This Leon
S. Peters Foundation Lecture will be held in the University Business
Center, Alice Peters Auditorium, Room 191, on the Fresno State campus
and is part of the Armenian Studies Program Spring 2014 Lecture
Series.
Dr. Marchese is professor of ancient history and archaeology at the
University of Minnesota, Duluth and has spent the last several years
documenting the rich cultural history of the Armenians in
Constantinople, by studying the works of arts that the Armenians
produced. He will accompany his talk with slides of some of the
artwork that he has catalogued.
Prior to the establishment of the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople, the Armenian population of the city and its
surrounding districts had little visible religious representation.
Those Armenians that existed in the city, perhaps a larger population
than previously believed, adopted Byzantine manners and customs in
order to assimilate to the dominant Greek culture of the city. After
1453 the Armenians of the city grew in number, status, and prestige -
certainly evident in the increased immigration to the city after the
devastation and annexation of eastern Anatolia. In many respects, the
revitalization of the city is due to many reasons, but it is likely
that the energy and creative talents of Armenian immigrants had a
profound affect on this process.
After 1700 this is clearly seen in the second great artistic awakening
of Armenian culture, which defined the `Constantinople Style of
Religious and Secular Art.' The artistic achievements of the Armenian
community are not without a social context. It is through the art of
the Armenian community that much new information about the city's
population is explored as well.
The lecture will present illustrated examples of this `Constantinople
Style.' Dr. Marchese received his Ph.D. from New York University and
has a distinguished career in archaeology, having conducted research
at the Plataiai Archaeological Excavation in Greece and at Tel Dor in
Israel. He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters in the
field. He is an alumnus of California State University, Fresno.
He is the author, together with Marlene Breu, of Splendor and
Spectacle: The Armenian Orthodox Church Textile Collections of
Istanbul (Ã=87itlembik Ltd., Istanbul, 2010).
The lecture is free and open to the public.
Free parking is available in Lots A or J on campus, adjacent to the
University Business Center, only if a parking pass is obtained by
using code 273406 in any of the campus kiosks.
For more information on the lecture please contact the Armenian
Studies Program at 278-2669.