Earlier today (yesterday now) I happened to be told about a guest lecture presented by the Smart Museum, in which Ittai Weinryb would be giving a lecture on Medieval Art. I know little about the field so decided to sit in on it.

Focusing primarily on the bronze doors of the Mausoleum of Bohemund I at Canosa di Puglia, Weinryb explored the interesting properties of bronze. The bronze used for such doors is an alloy, and it is in this mixing cultural ideas are revealed. The Christian mystery of the trinity is one such cultural idea connected to the process. The lost wax technique of casting bronze is connected to the Christian symbolism of the Holy Spirit breathing into Christ’s nose, thereby animating him.