Kelsey Eldridge—The Royal Stone: Porphyry in Ancient Rome and Beyond

The School of Art, Art History, and Design presents a lecture by Kelsey Eldridge, visiting assistant professor of art history at the University of Puget Sound.

Eldridge's research explores the use of the "royal stone" porphyry in art from the Roman imperial period through the early modern era. She holds a BA in Art History and Comparative Religion from the University of Puget Sound, an MA in Art History from the University of Washington, and a PhD in the History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University. Kelsey is also interested in numismatics and sigillography and has held positions in Coins and Seals at the Harvard Art Museum and Dumbarton Oaks.

This talk is presented with the generous support of the Mary Ausplund Tooze Endowed Visiting Professor of Islamic & Ancient Art Fund.

Image: Sarcophagus of Constantina, a porphyry sculpture with cupids harvesting grapes to make wine. The imagery has been interpreted as an early Christian reference to the Eucharist. It once housed the body of Constantina, daughter of Constantine the Great (died 354).