Cecily Hilsdale

Cecily Hilsdale is Associate Professor in Art History at McGill University, specializing in Byzantine and Mediterranean art. She holds leadership roles as Advisor and Program Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Medieval Studies and Co-Director of the Global Pasts research group.

Her research explores cultural exchange, diplomatic gift-giving, and imperial imagery in later Byzantine periods. She investigates how luxury objects mediated power dynamics during imperial decline.

Dr. Hilsdale's award-winning book Byzantine Art and Diplomacy in an Age of Decline (2014) examines the interplay between visual culture and political authority. Her current SSHRC-supported project analyzes treasure as cultural legacy across Mediterranean history.