Joan Evans

Historian, Author

1893 – 1977

74

Who was Joan Evans?

Dame Joan Evans, DBE was a British historian of French and English mediaeval art, especially Early Modern and medieval jewellery; her notable collection was bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Born at Nash Mills, Apsley, Hertfordshire, she was the daughter of antiquarian and businessman Sir John Evans and his third wife, Maria Millington Lathbury. She was educated privately before going up to St Hugh's College, Oxford to read Archaeology. She graduated in 1916 as M.A. and was awarded a D.Litt. in 1930. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Evans served as the first woman President of that Society 1959-64. In 1950, her book Cluniac Art of the Romanesque Period, which concerned art and sculptures made by the monks of the abbey at Cluny in eastern France, was published by Cambridge University Press.

She was half-sister to Sir Arthur Evans, excavator of Knossos and discoverer of Minoan civilization.

The Royal Institution of Great Britain’s records suggest that she was the first ever female at the Institution to deliver, on 8 June 1923, a Friday Evening Discourse which she entitled ‘Jewels of the Renaissance’.

We need you!

Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!

Born
Jun 22, 1893
Apsley, Hertfordshire
Also known as
  • Dame Joan Evans
Siblings
Nationality
  • United Kingdom
Profession
Education
  • St Hugh's College, Oxford
Died
1977

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Joan Evans." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/biography/joan-evans/m/0gjgd0>.

Discuss this Joan Evans biography with the community:

0 Comments

    Browse Biographies.net