Michèle Kahn Spike
Encyclopedia
Michèle Kahn Spike is an American lawyer, historian, and prominent lay figure in the Episcopalian church. Since the late 1980s she has lived in Florence
, Italy
together with her husband, noted art historian John Spike
.
Although a graduate of Boston University School of Law
and a member of the New York State Bar Association
in the United States
, she has primarily concentrated on social activism and historiography since moving to Italy
. As a member of the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns of the Episcopal Church (USA), Spike has participated in delegations to Palestine
and Israel
as well as to United Nations
conferences in New York City
and Amman
, Jordan
.
More recently, she is known for her biography of Matilda of Tuscany
, Tuscan Countess: The Life and Extraordinary Times of Matilda of Canossa, which was published to favorable reviews in 2004. She also collaborated with John Spike on his study of Caravaggio
.
She is the mother of a son, Nicholas, 26, together with her husband.
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
together with her husband, noted art historian John Spike
John Spike
John Thomas Spike is an American art historian, curator, and author, specializing in the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods. He is also a prominent contemporary art critic and past director of the Florence Biennale...
.
Although a graduate of Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
and a member of the New York State Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, she has primarily concentrated on social activism and historiography since moving to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. As a member of the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns of the Episcopal Church (USA), Spike has participated in delegations to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
as well as to United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
conferences in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
.
More recently, she is known for her biography of Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany
Matilda of Tuscany was an Italian noblewoman, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. She is one of the few medieval women to be remembered for her military accomplishments...
, Tuscan Countess: The Life and Extraordinary Times of Matilda of Canossa, which was published to favorable reviews in 2004. She also collaborated with John Spike on his study of Caravaggio
Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque...
.
She is the mother of a son, Nicholas, 26, together with her husband.