Charles Reginald Dodwell

Charles Reginald Dodwell(1922–1994) was a British art historian who specialized in the period covering the years 800–1200.

Early life

Dodwell was born inCheltenhamon 3 February 1922.He was admitted toGonville and Caius College, Cambridge,where he specialized in history.His academic studies were interrupted by the outbreak ofWorld War II.He served in theRoyal Navyfrom 1941 to 1945, although he suffered from sea-sickness. Initially serving as a mine-sweeper in the British home waters, he later took part in both theAllied invasion of Sicilyand theNormandy landings.

Academic career

After the end of the war, Dodwell returned to Cambridge to complete his studies underPhilip Grierson.He specialized in medieval art history, particularly in illuminated manuscripts. In 1949, he was made a senior research fellow of theWarburg Institute,which had been relocated a few years earlier fromHamburgto London. In 1953, he was chosen byArchbishopGeoffrey Fisherfor the prestigious position of librarian-archivist ofLambeth Palace Library,despite having no formal librarian's qualifications.In this position, Dodwell assisted with the careful transfer of the contents of the library (heavily damaged during the war) to proper repositories. In 1958, he became a lecturer and librarian atTrinity College, Cambridge,and in 1966 he obtained a professorship atManchester University.He held this position for 23 years. He was elected aFellow of the British Academyin 1973.

During his long career, Dodwell published several notable works. In 1954 he publishedThe Canterbury School of Illumination 1066–1200,considered to be the first significant post-war publication on English medieval art.In another publication, he advanced the view (not widely accepted by other scholars) that theReichenau manuscriptswere actually created atTrierandLorsch.

Later life

In 1988, Dodwell suffered a stroke that left him partially blind.Despite his declining health, he continued in active research and publication. He resigned his position as professor in 1989, and with his wife moved toTaunton,where he remained until his death in 1994. His final work,Anglo-Saxon Gestures and the Roman Stage,was published posthumously.His friends and colleagues publishedMedieval Art: Recent Perspectivesas a memorial to Dodwell, including recognition of his work in the restoration of the Lambeth Palace Library during his tenure there.