Dr. Verity Platt

Biography

Verity Platt specializes in Greek and Roman art history, with a particular interest in the relationship between ancient literary and visual cultures, especially during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Her research publications focus on ancient theories of image, media, historiography of ancient art—especially the work of Pliny the Elder—and the material visual culture of religion. Notably, she has received the Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow Award at Cornell for her sustained commitment to undergraduate education. Platt has held post-doctoral research positions at the University of Chicago and University College, Oxford, and is currently the director of Cornell's Humanities Scholars Program, guiding undergraduate research in the humanities. Her upcoming monograph, 'Epistemic Impressions: Making Mediating Classical Art Text', explores the connections between ancient models of sense perception and the relationships between texts and objects. She has editor roles in academic journals and has curated exhibitions featuring contemporary artists, emphasizing critical engagements with classicism in contemporary art. Platt also welcomes applications from graduate students in ancient visual culture, looking to explore intersections of visual, material, and literary studies. Her extensive publication record includes monographs and numerous articles on various aspects of ancient art and its reception in modern contexts.

Research Interests