The Department of Art History is pleased to announce that Shaun Midanik successfully defended his PhD dissertation on March 11, 2025. Shaun’s dissertation, “Between Two Trades: Books of Prints in Early Modern Italy (1450-1700)”, addresses a little-studied phenomenon called “books of prints”: bound groups of pictures that emerged as a new type of book in the early modern period. It identifies three types of books of prints through case studies, each of which demonstrates how this new medium emerged out of existing media. Highlighting the forgotten material features of books of prints, it challenges the notion that a print series was ever original or finished. The dissertation's external examiner, Professor Lisa Pon, calls this work “a welcome addition to scholarship” in this area, “with significant and innovative contributions”. All present at the defense report that Shaun demonstrated mastery of the subject and received enthusiastic acclamations all around.
Shaun was advised by co-supervisors Professors Evonne Levy and Philip Sohm, and his committee members Professors Alan Galey and Matt Kavaler. Professor Alexandra Gillespie served as internal-external examiner.
Congratulations Dr. Midanik on this well-earned success!