Preserving Fragile Wisdom

In this volume, colleagues and friends present 48 essays to Lieve Watteeuw, professor at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies and founder of the Book Heritage Lab at KU Leuven. This Festschrift, dedicated to Lieve on the occasion of her emerita status in 2024, spans a wide range of topics reflecting and celebrating her multifaceted career. For decades, Lieve has been a guiding force in the study and preservation of illuminated manuscripts, books and a variety of exceptional heritage artefacts. From the Codex Eyckensis, the oldest preserved book in the Benelux, to the Anjou Bible, a royal masterpiece from Naples, her meticulous conservation work and research have preserved and revealed the fragile wisdom they conceal. Lieve's work is particularly characterized by her multidisciplinary approach, in which she innovated by developing new research techniques for her field. Hence, the contributions are situated across the intersection of historical, art-historical, art-technical and conservation studies. Further, the volume includes a complete bibliography of her professional and academic career as well as a reflection on her academic journey. Lieve's trodden paths ensure that the past remains vivid in the present. This book honours her extraordinary skills and legacy, and the enduring stories she has helped to preserve for future generations.