Gionata Tomasiello

Philology

Please tell us about your research project.

I am a PhD candidate in Digital Romance and Italian Philology at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa and the École nationale des chartes in Paris, where I work on medieval French and Italian translations of the Bible. The aim of my PhD is to produce the first critical edition of one of the most beloved and widely circulated French translations of the Apocalypse, known as Version C, which was copied in lavishly illuminated manuscripts for kings and aristocrats. This means comparing the manuscripts, reconstructing how they relate to one another, and tracing how the translation was revised as it moved from the Bible du XIII^e siècle into the Bible historiale complétée.

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?

I am spending the Michaelmas term at the MFO thanks to a mobility scholarship awarded by Université PSL, which funds my stay. It is a key stage of my doctorate, as it gives me access to the Bodleian Libraries, with their medieval manuscripts and their unrivalled holdings in biblical and medieval studies. I am also looking forward to exchanging ideas with Oxford’s medievalists and digital humanists, and with the other residents of the MFO.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?

Oxford is a beautiful town, from its old colleges to the parks and the river, never more than a short walk away. What struck me first is how much the University is part of everyday life here: students and researchers everywhere, talks and seminars almost every day, and libraries that are quiet and pleasant places to work. The MFO has been a wonderful place to land. Its library, its events and the warm welcome of the staff and residents have made me feel at home from the very first day.