Ellen Perry

Ellen Perry is the Monsignor Murray Professor in the Arts and Humanities at the College of the Holy Cross. She specializes in classical archaeology, Roman art, and ancient sculpture, with a focus on imitation in art, ancient aesthetics, and religious space. Perry holds a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Her research explores the intersection of art and rhetoric, particularly how Roman art reflects societal values and ethical debates. She has served as President of the Classical Association of New England and currently chairs the Archaeological Institute of America’s Program Committee. Her work also addresses modern uses of archaeology in national narratives. Perry teaches courses on classical archaeology, Roman sculpture, and ethical issues in archaeology.

• Education:
  • B.A., Swarthmore College (Greek major, Latin minor)
  • M.A. and Ph.D., University of Michigan (Classical Art and Archaeology)

Research Interests: Ellen’s scholarship centers on Roman art’s role in cultural expression, including studies of imitation, ancient aesthetics, and the ethical dimensions of archaeological practice. Her book The Aesthetics of Emulation in the Visual Arts of Ancient Rome (2005) remains a seminal work in the field. She also examines how modern societies reinterpret ancient artifacts to construct national identities.

Recent Scholarly Focus: Her articles and edited works analyze Roman sculpture, Pompeii’s domestic art, and museum collections. Recent projects include re-examining the Sleeping Hermaphrodite and Edward Robinson’s plaster casts, highlighting art’s material and ideological significance.

• Service & Leadership:
  • Former CANE President and Summer Institute Director
  • Chair, Archaeological Institute of America’s Program Committee

Extracurricular Activities: A native of Washington D.C., Perry resides near Douglas State Forest. Beyond academia, she is an avid beekeeper and baker, often found tending her hives or experimenting with recipes.