Denys Spittle

Denys Spittle (Stanley Denys Trevor Spittle) OBE, MA, FSA, (born: Cambridge 1920; died: 7 December 2003) studied architecture at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and in 1935^[1] became a member of the “Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum”. Spittle was involved in the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University Samothrace Expedition of 1951^[2] 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.,^[3] published in 1964 and 1982.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]} He was Editor (in charge) Cambridge office Royal Commission for Historical Monuments, involved in studying the wall paintings at Pembroke College,^[10] of the archaeological sites of Cambridgeshire ^{[11] [12]} , the archaeological sites of Northamptonshire^[13] ,^{[14][15][16][17][18]} as well as the historic town of Stamford^[19][20][21] he also produced illustrations.^[22] He was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1956.^[23]

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.^[24] 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." ^[25]

References

1. ^ Reporter Special 9/4/01: Annual Report of the Fitzwilliam Museum for the period January 1999 to July 2000
2. ^ New York Times Article Sept 30 1951 p.57
3. ^ http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuaire_des_Grands_Dieux_de_Samothrace
4. ^ Lehman P, Spittle D, Lehmann PW (Ed) (1981) Samothrace: The Temenos v. 5 Princeton University Press
5. ^ Lehmann 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 Books
6. ^ Lehmann K, Spittle D, Williams P (1982) Samothrace The Tememos *2 Volumes-Text & Plates Princeton U.P.
7. ^ Lehman K & Spittle D (1964) SAMOTHRACE: 4, II: THE ALTAR COURT. Pantheon (USA)
8. ^ Lehmann K & Spittle D (1964) Samothrace the Hall of Votive Gifts (Altar Court, Vol. 4) Princeton University Press
9. ^ Williams P & Spittle D (1983) Samothrace Princeton Univ Pr
10. ^ Spittle D (1969) 'Wall Paintings at Pembroke College, Cambridge' in Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society Volume 16
11. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in West Cambridgeshire Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
12. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North East Cambridgeshire Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
13. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (1975) An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North-East Northamptonshire Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
14. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (1979) An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in Central Northamptonshire Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
15. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (1983) Archaeological Sites In South West Northamptonshire Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
16. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory Of Archaeological Sites In North West Northamptonshire Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
17. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory Of Archaeological Sites And Churches In Northampton Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
18. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (1984) An Inventory Of Archaeological Sites And Churches In Northampton Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
19. ^ Spittle S D T (Ed.) (date) An Inventory of The Town of Stamford Royal Commission on Historical Monuments
20. ^ Spittle D (1975) 'Browne's Hospital, Stamford' Archaeol J, 131, 1975, 351-2ISSN 0066-5983
21. ^ Spittle D (1975) 'Church of All Saints, Stamford' Archaeol J, 131, 1975, 350-1ISSN 0066-5983
22. ^ 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 ..."
23. ^ http://www.sal.org.uk/salon/sal73#6 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.
24. ^ BBC History Magazine
25. ^ http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/documents/20071022_PrivatePleasures.pdf

Persondata
Name	Spittle, Denys
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1920
Place of birth
Date of death	7 December 2003
Place of death