Denys Spittle
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Stanley Denys Trevor Spittle OBE, MA, FSA, (Cambridge 1920 – 7 December 2003) was an English archaeologist.
Biography
Spittle studied architecture at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and in 1935[http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2000-01/special/13/2.html Reporter Special 9/4/01: Annual Report of the Fitzwilliam Museum for the period January 1999 to July 2000] became a member of the “Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum”. Spittle was involved in the 1951 Samothrace Expedition of the New York University Institute of Fine ArtsNew York Times Article Sept 30 1951 p.57 which unearthed two ancient Greek structures - a hall for votive gifts of the sixth century B.C. and a great altar court. Spittle also contributed to the reports on the preceding excavations,:fr:Sanctuaire des Grands Dieux de Samothrace published in 1964 and 1982.Lehman, P.; Spittle. D.; Williams Lehmann, P. (Ed) (1981) Samothrace: The Temenos v. 5 Princeton University PressLehmann, K.; Spittle, D. (1964)The Altar Court / by Karl Lehmann and Denys Spittle (with contributions by Martha Leeb Hadzi, Elaine P. Loeffler and Iris C. Love) Pantheon BooksLehmann, K; Spittle, D., Williams, P. (1982) Samothrace The Tememos *2 Volumes - Text & Plates, Princeton University PressLehman K & Spittle D (1964) SAMOTHRACE: 4, II: THE ALTAR COURT. Pantheon (USA)Lehmann K & Spittle D (1964) Samothrace the Hall of Votive Gifts (Altar Court, Vol. 4) Princeton University PressWilliams P & Spittle D (1983) Samothrace, Princeton University Press He was Editor (in charge), Cambridge office, Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, involved in studying the wall paintings at Pembroke College,Spittle D (1969) 'Wall Paintings at Pembroke College, Cambridge' in Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society Volume 16 of the archaeological sites of Cambridgeshire,Spittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in West Cambridgeshire Royal Commission on Historical MonumentsSpittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North East Cambridgeshire Royal Commission on Historical Monuments the archaeological sites of Northamptonshire,Spittle S D T (Ed.) (1975) An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North-East Northamptonshire Royal Commission on Historical MonumentsSpittle S D T (Ed.) (1979) An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in Central Northamptonshire Royal Commission on Historical MonumentsSpittle S D T (Ed.) (1983) Archaeological Sites In South West Northamptonshire Royal Commission on Historical MonumentsSpittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory Of Archaeological Sites In North West Northamptonshire Royal Commission on Historical MonumentsSpittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory Of Archaeological Sites And Churches In Northampton Royal Commission on Historical MonumentsSpittle S D T (Ed.) (1984) An Inventory Of Archaeological Sites And Churches In Northampton Royal Commission on Historical Monuments as well as the historic town of Stamford, Lincolnshire.Spittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory of The Town of Stamford Royal Commission on Historical MonumentsSpittle D (1975) 'Browne's Hospital, Stamford' Archaeol J, 131, 1975, 351-2ISSN 0066-5983Spittle D (1975) 'Church of All Saints, Stamford' Archaeol J, 131, 1975, 350-1ISSN 0066-5983 He also produced illustrations.Ramage NH & Ramage A(2004)Paperback Roman Art: Romulus to Constantine, 4th Prentice Hall Edition - page 276: "... Leptis Magna, Libya. AD 203-204. Marble. Reconstructed and drawn by Denys Spittle ..." He was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1956.http://www.sal.org.uk/salon/sal73#6 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515171408/http://www.sal.org.uk/salon/sal73#6 |date=2011-05-15 }} Members of the Society are called Fellows and are known as Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA). To be elected persons shall be 'excelling in the knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other nations' and be 'desirous to promote the honour, business and emoluments of the Society'. Proposals for membership can only come from existing Fellows of the Society. The number of Fellows is limited by statute, and currently is around 2,300. He served as president of the Royal Archaeological Institute, 1981–1984.
Spittle was an important collector of art with an extensive collection including 25 illuminated manuscripts; these manuscripts originally belonged to Sir Thomas Watson, and when Watson died in 1921 he left 25 volumes, which eventually ended up in the hands of Spittle. Shortly before his own death in 2003 Spittle helped devise the (2007) exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, entitled "Private Pleasures: Illuminated manuscripts from Persia to Paris", which showcased his collection of manuscripts dating from the 10th to the 20th centuries. Highlights included a Byzantine Gospel, a Flemish Book of Hours, an Ottoman Koran and a Venetian copy of Cicero.[http://www.bbchistorymagazine.com/exhibitiondetails.asp?id=35347 BBC History Magazine] Dr Stella Panayotova, Keeper of Manuscripts and Printed Books at the Fitzwilliam Museum and the curator of Private Pleasures, said "This exhibition celebrates the passion for medieval manuscripts, the pleasure of collecting them and the excitement of sharing them with others. We are delighted to
have the opportunity to display this selection of treasures from so personal a collection."{{Cite web |url=http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/documents/20071022_PrivatePleasures.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607102211/http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/documents/20071022_PrivatePleasures.pdf |archive-date=2008-06-07 |url-status=dead }}
References
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Category:20th-century English architects
Category:English art collectors
Category:English archaeologists
Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge
Category:People of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
Category:Presidents of the Royal Archaeological Institute