Participant Info

First Name
Geri
Last Name
Parlby
Country
United Kingdom
State
Affiliation
Independent Scholar
Website URL
www.gparlby.co.uk
Keywords
Art History Visual Culture History Through Art Christian Iconography Byzantine Art Early Christianity Religious Art Medieval Art Late Antique Art Ancient Art Prehistoric Art Classical Antiquity Roman Egypt Archaeology Cultural History Material Culture Visual Storytelling Historical Narratives
Availability
Media Contact
Additional Contact Information
PhD
PhD

Personal Info

Photo
About Me

Dr Geri Parlby is an art historian, lecturer, writer and former journalist whose work explores the intersection of art, history, archaeology and religion. Following an early career in Fleet Street journalism and film publicity, where she served as UK Head of Press for United International Pictures before establishing her own public relations consultancy, she returned to academia to pursue her long-standing interest in the visual arts and cultural history.

She holds an MA in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art and a PhD in religious art from the University of Roehampton. Her research examines how works of art can be used as historical evidence, with particular interests in Christian iconography, Byzantine and Early Christian art, Marian studies, Roman Egypt, archaeology, and the relationship between visual culture and historical narrative. She also explores wider themes including mythology, medicine in art, propaganda, Orientalism, and the social history reflected in artistic production.

Dr Parlby has taught History of Art at the Universities of Exeter, Plymouth and Roehampton and has been an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society for many years, presenting lectures throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. Her engaging and interdisciplinary approach combines rigorous scholarship with accessible storytelling, making complex historical subjects relevant to diverse audiences.

Alongside her lecturing, she leads specialist courses for The Arts Society South West Area and the Devon Archaeological Society and has written extensively on art, history and religion. She serves as Chair of the Tavistock Heritage Trust and is a Trustee of The Arts Society, reflecting her commitment to heritage, public engagement and lifelong learning.

Through her lectures, publications and research, Dr Parlby demonstrates how images are not simply illustrations of history but are themselves vital historical documents that reveal the beliefs, politics, cultures and lived experiences of past societies.

Recent Publications

The Race That Never Ended: The Making of Ben Hur August 2026, White Owl Publishers

Media Coverage
Country Focus
United Kingdom, Western Europe
Expertise by Geography
Anatolia, British Isles, England, Latin America, Russia, United Kingdom, Western Europe
Expertise by Chronology
Ancient, Medieval, Pre-17th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, Early Modern
Expertise by Topic
Art & Architectural History, Local & Regional, Religion, Urban History, Women