Ellen Beer

Ellen Judith Beer (12 March 1926 – 18 March 2004) was a Swiss art historian. She focused on Medieval art.

Biography

Beer received her doctorate degree at the University of Zurich with her publication about the "Rose der Kathedrale von Lausanne", the rose window in the Lausanne Cathedral. In 1965, she became associate professor and 1971 full professor at the University of Bern. The Ellen-J.-Beer Foundation was created in her memory; it supports young researchers and medieval art history projects.

Career

With her publications about the mysticism of light (1972) and gold-ground painting techniques (1982), she has published internationally received and still relevant reference books. She later published two volumes about Swiss stained glass from the 12th to the 15th century as well as books about illuminated manuscripts in Carolingian, Ottonian, and Gothic Gothic art. While her books focused mainly on style and iconography, her articles explored new methodologies: She addressed the function of objects, theological backgrounds, questions of motif and historical-political programs.
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