Molly Judd

Research Overview:

Molly Judd’s research examines the role of ‘wilderness’ in shaping both the creation and reception of Romanesque architecture within the English Fenland landscape. The term ‘wilderness,’ derived from the Old English wild(d)eornes meaning ‘place of the wild beasts,’ emerged contemporaneously with the Romanesque style. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, Molly investigates the Fenland ‘wilderness’ through its physical components —namely water, woodland, and stone — as well as its culturally constructed character, as reflected in hagiography, literature, and folklore. Her work seeks to illuminate how these elements influenced both the production and reception of Romanesque art in the region.

Biography:

Molly is undertaking her PhD at the University of Cambridge. Her work is generously funded by the AHRC, and is supervised by Dr Laura Slater. She graduated with a First-Class BA from Cambridge in 2019, earning the Outstanding Achievement prize and recognition for the best Art History dissertation. She subsequently completed an MSci in the History and Philosophy of Science (First Class) before pursuing her MA at The Courtauld Institute of Art, where she achieved a High Distinction and was awarded the prize for the best dissertation on a medieval topic.