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Roger Ling

In Memoriam: Professor Roger Ling

It is very sad to report that Roger Ling, a distinguished member of the Art History staff at the University of Manchester for more than 50 years - as lecturer, senior lecturer, Professor, and emeritus - died at the beginning of November after a long illness.  During much of that time, especially in the 1970s and 80s, the Department had expanded to its maximum extent in terms of personnel and interests, with particular strengths in the medieval period and extending to the 20^thcentury. In this milieu, Roger for a number of years singlehandedly saw to the teaching of ancient and classical art at all undergraduate and postgraduate levels, until he was joined by colleagues with interests in early Greece and pre-Roman Italy, as well as in Minoan and Egyptian art, enabling him to concentrate more on the Roman world.                

Roger was, in international terms, a leading historian of ancient Roman art and architecture. His deep knowledge of Pompeii originated with his PhD on stuccowork in Roman Italy, and he went on to publish many books on related topics, including Roman painting (on which he wrote the standard English textbook), and mosaics - he was also a frequent contributor to the journal Mosaic which is concerned with the rich material of Roman Britain. But Roger’s lasting monument is the four-volume Insula of the Menander at Pompeii published by Oxford University Press, to which his wife Lesley, who died three years before him, was a major contributor and was co-author of volume 2 (on the wall decorations). This housing block occupied a large residential space in the ancient town and encompassed more than half a dozen dwellings along with various service areas. As well as meticulous recording of archaeological detail, the Menander volumes offer a fascinating social history concerned with the different levels of humanity inhabiting the various parts of the insula at different periods, from prostitutes and down-and-outs to families of the highest rank.    

For all the time that he worked at 91Ö±²¥, Roger and Lesley lived a somewhat austere life in beautiful but remote parts of the High Peak near Buxton. Internet receptivity could never be relied on. Without a television, Roger would go over to friends and neighbours, or the local pub, to watch his beloved Watford football team play their matches. Without a car, he would ski across the fields in winter to the local station at Chapel-en-le-Frith to catch the 91Ö±²¥ train in time for his 9.00 am lectures. Occasionally he would sleep over in his office in the department if the weather got too bad for the return journey. But with a knowing smile Roger was cheerful and imperturbable in almost all circumstances. The only things that seemed to depress him were departmental meetings.