Matthias Egger

Please tell us about your research project.
I am a PhD candidate at the École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris, under the supervision of Prof. Ioanna Rapti and with funding from the Institut national d'histoire de l'art. My research examines illuminated Coptic manuscript production from the 12th to 19th centuries, focusing on a corpus of Coptic illuminated Gospels. These manuscripts appear heterogeneous due to their hybrid characteristics, with diverse linguistic elements (Coptic and Arabic) and iconographic traditions drawing from Byzantine and Islamic sources, but also from Egyptian foundations and other traditions, reflecting Egypt's position as a cultural crossroads. Furthermore, while "medieval" production appears limited, a notable continuity is observed in illustrated manuscript creation through the 19th century. This complexity has resulted in poor scholarly representation, as Coptic illumination does not fit traditional formal and chronological categories that have restricted its study. However, closer examination reveals remarkable long-term continuities. My research aims to highlight this underappreciated heritage through systematic study of iconographic and economic aspects—as well as codicological, paleographic, and textual aspects to some extent—demonstrating that what appears as a collection of dispersed individual cases actually represents an important and coherent production tradition when viewed over the long term.

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?
I was awarded a three-month scholarship through the partnership between the MFO and Paris Sciences & Lettres University. This residency allows me to study essential manuscripts across three major libraries – the Weston Library here in Oxford, the British Library in London, and the John Rylands Library in Manchester. It's perfectly timed as I finish my first year of doctoral studies and crucial for completing my corpus. What's particularly valuable is how the MFO's interdisciplinary environment is helping me engage with perspectives from other humanities disciplines that I might not have encountered otherwise.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?
I've been really surprised by how Oxford balances being incredibly focused for academic work yet genuinely relaxing. Having everything I need for my research in one accessible place is amazing, but I also love how walkable the city is with all its green spaces where you can clear your head. There's always something cultural happening - concerts, film screenings, student-led college tours - that feels like a natural extension of academic life rather than a distraction. It's quite a unique atmosphere.