Dr Lara Eggleton is an art writer and part-time Lecturer in the Department of Art History and Visual Studies at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on Islamic visual culture of the medieval Mediterranean and its Western reception, particularly through the eyes of Victorian travellers. She has published her research in a number of journals and forthcoming books. Alongside her academic activities, Lara works as a freelance art writer, workshop leader and consultant under the name 'Thoughtform' (thought-form.com). She also authors the blog follymatters.wordpress.com