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What lies beneath? Pictish Monsters and the Living Frame – Online Event

Medieval art is known for its monsters, but Pictish art seems to take it to the next level. This talk addresses the many questions raised by the monsters that crawl, slither, and climb across the sculptural surfaces of Pictish art. While the focus is primarily on sculpture, building on Victoria Whitworth and Isabel Henderson’s arguments that we might understand the Book of Kells as made in Pictland, the talk also considers the Book of Kells and the Book of Deer.

It begins by asking what a monster is, and what it means to be monstrous. It then turns to ask: What do Pictish monsters do for Pictish art? Why do they feature on so many monuments, in so many positions on these monuments, including places normally reserved in medieval art for the most sacred and divine figures? Finally, it briefly considers how the settings of these monuments (as much as we can reconstruct them) might help us better understand the role of monsters in Pictish art.

This Annual Academic Lecture will be given by Dr Heather Pulliam, Professor of Medieval Art, Edinburgh School of Art.

While Dig It! takes every opportunity to ensure that this information is accurate, we advise that you contact the event organiser before attending the event to avoid disappointment. As “39% of transport emissions come from cars” according to Net Zero Nation, Dig It! also encourages you to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport to arrive at this event if possible.

Image: Groam House Museum

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