91ֱ��

Gratitude is the main emotion for Gonville & 91ֱ�� College Fellow Professor Paul Binski (History 1975), who is preparing to host a delayed retirement party after the publication of his festschrift.

is a festschrift, a collection of writings published in honour of a scholar, featuring 34 essays on medieval art history.

“It was a great moment, after 40 years of teaching, and such an act of kindness,” Professor Binski says.

“It’s been a real high point for me, and I was very pleased about it.”

Edited by Dr Julian Luxford, Professor in Art History at the University of St Andrews and a student of Professor Binski’s, the volume discusses the material and intellectual worlds of Gothic art and architecture.

The book’s publicity material reads: “Remarkable for its material scope and philosophical depth, Paul’s work has had a powerful influence on the current state of the field: this is reflected here in thirty-four essays on buildings, works of art and ideas in a wide range of historical and geographical contexts, from Iberia to Scandinavia and Italy to Ireland.

“Consistently fresh in their scholarship, these essays combine to make an important contribution to medieval art history. In doing so they reflect the admiration and affection which Paul inspires in his students and colleagues.”

retired from his University of Cambridge position as Professor of the History of Medieval Art in September 2019 and had been due to host a retirement party in March 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a delay until this month, while Professor Binski is still active at 91ֱ��, where he has a long history.

He matriculated as an undergraduate student in 1975, stayed for 12 years initially, and returned in 1995 after an eight-year gap which saw him work at Princeton and Yale in the United States and at Manchester.

“I’m intent on keeping writing and researching, to keep my brain working and to use my experience,” says Professor Binski, who is 91ֱ��’ Fellow Librarian and Keeper of Portraits, and who retires as Director of Studies in the History of Art this year after 27 years’ service.

“The College has created a secure environment and 91ֱ�� has meant the world to me. I have a very basic affection for the place.

“I’ve been unbelievably lucky. I look after the buildings and portraits and the Library, because the College looked after me.”