Katherine Dunbabin is an archaeologist specialising in Roman art and Professor Emerita of Classics at McMaster University.[1]

Katherine Dunbabin
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Oxford
ThesisStudies in the mosaic pavements of Roman North Africa (1970)
Academic work
DisciplineClassics
Sub-disciplineRoman art
InstitutionsMcMaster University

Career

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Dunbabin studied at the University of Oxford, and was awarded her doctorate in 1970. Her thesis was titled Studies in the mosaic pavements of Roman North Africa.[2] When Dunbabin started her DPhil there was little English-language research into Roman art.[3] Her first book, The mosaics of Roman North Africa: studies in iconography and patronage with the Clarendon Press, was published in 1978. It was based on her doctoral research. Barry Cunliffe described it as 'a contribution to classical studies of considerable significance, for not only does it give a thorough treatment to a body of material of outstanding beauty and interest, but in doing so it greatly enlivens our understanding of the social, economic and artistic systems which pervade the Roman world.'[4] Her interest in the subject of Roman art continued, and in 1999 she published a book, Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World, with Cambridge University Press. A review in The Telegraph described the book as 'a masterpiece of visual, historical, technical and social analysis'.[5]

While preparing a book on mosaics, Dunbabin began researching Roman dining spaces, looking particularly at how they were decorated. This led to Dunbabin publishing a second book with Cambridge University Press, exploring how art can be used to give insight into social history.[6] Dunbabin was a visiting fellow at All Souls College, Oxford between January and June 2001.[7] In 2004, Dunbabin was awarded a Killam Fellowship so she could dedicate time to researching the role of theatre in Roman society and Roman art. The aim was to produce a book and deliver a series of public lectures on the topic.[8] She retired from McMaster University in 2006.[9]

Dunbabin has been part of the Journal of Roman Archaeology's editorial board since 2009.[10][11]

Publications

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Books

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  • Katherine M. D. Dunbabin (30 August 2016). Theater and Spectacle in the Art of the Roman Empire. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-5688-6. OL 27705528M. Wikidata Q61789061.
  • Katherine M. D. Dunbabin (2003). The Roman Banquet: Images of Conviviality. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-82252-1. OL 20526120M. Wikidata Q59140723.
  • Katherine M. D. Dunbabin (1999). Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-00230-1. OL 376167M. Wikidata Q59140664.
  • Katherine M. D. Dunbabin (1978), The Mosaics of Roman North Africa. Studies in Iconography and Patronage, Clarendon Press, Wikidata Q61789711

Articles

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References

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  1. ^ Dunbabin, Katherine M. D. (30 August 2016). Theater and Spectacle in the Art of the Roman Empire. Cornell Studies in Classical Philology. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801456886.
  2. ^ Jacobs, P. M., ed. (1976), "History Theses 1901-1970: Historical research for higher degrees in the universities of the United Kingdom", British History Online, Institute of Historical Research, pp. 5–15, retrieved 22 January 2019
  3. ^ Dunbabin, Katherine M. D. (1999), Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World, Cambridge University Press, p. xxi, ISBN 9780521002301
  4. ^ Cunliffe, Barry (November 1980), "Katherine M. D. Dunbabin: The mosaics of Roman North Africa: studies in iconography and patronage. Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978. 303 pp., 88 pls. (8 in colour). £27.50.", Antiquity, 54 (212): 239–241, doi:10.1017/S0003598X00043416, S2CID 162455661
  5. ^ "Some answers from the floor: Mosaics tell us more than we realise about life in classical times", The Telegraph, 4 January 2000, archived from the original on 27 February 2016, retrieved 21 February 2019
  6. ^ Dunbabin, Katherine M. D. (2003), The Roman Banquet: Images of Conviviality, Cambridge University Press, pp. xv–xvi, ISBN 0-521-82252-1
  7. ^ Dunbabin, Katherine M. D. (2003), The Roman Banquet: Images of Conviviality, Cambridge University Press, p. xvi, ISBN 0-521-82252-1
  8. ^ "Two McMaster researchers awarded prestigious Killam Fellowships". dailynews.mcmaster.ca. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  9. ^ Classics Departments / Programmes in Canada. New Hirings, Retirements and Departures (tenure-stream positions) 2005-2008 (PDF), Classical Association of Canada, archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2019, retrieved 22 January 2019
  10. ^ "Editorial board". Cambridge Core. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Prelims and table of contents". Journal of Roman Archaeology. 22: 1–5. 2009. doi:10.1017/S1047759400021747. S2CID 232348103.
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