Margrethe C. Stang

Margrethe C. Stang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Media Studies at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Faculty of Humanities. Her work focuses on medieval Norwegian art, particularly painting and sculpture from the High Middle Ages (c. 1200–1350), with a strong emphasis on religious imagery, patronage, and cultural heritage.

Her research interests include:

• Medieval church art and iconography
• St. Olav and royal saint representations
• Function of religious imagery in liturgical practice
• Patronage in medieval Norway
• Antisemitism and representation of minorities in medieval art
• Altar frontals and stave church furnishings
• Interdisciplinary approaches combining art history, archaeology, and theology

Her recent publications reveal a consistent scholarly engagement with medieval Scandinavian art, particularly through themes of cultural identity, religious symbolism, and visual polemics. She has edited and contributed to key anthologies such as The Medieval Scandinavian Art Reader and has published extensively on topics like the manticore in Urnes stave church and the representation of Jews and Muslims in Norwegian church art.

She has supervised numerous master’s students whose theses focus on medieval art, church furnishings, and cultural heritage. Notable students include Alexander Asphaug Rauboti, Morten Spjøtvold, and Siv Brobakken.

Her scientific contributions are complemented by active public dissemination, including participation in the grubleseminar series and regular commentary in journals such as Fortidsvern and Aftenposten. She also serves as Chairman of the Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum's foundation board, underscoring her leadership in cultural heritage preservation.

She teaches courses on European art and architecture from antiquity to the modern era and continues to mentor students on topics related to Nidaros Cathedral, medieval sculpture, and 19th-century restorations.