ARH 311: History of Italian Art from the 15th to the beginning of the 17th Century

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1 ARH 311: History of Italian Art from the 15th to the beginning of the 17th Century Spring Semester Instructor: Elisabetta Cunsolo Course Description: This course will offer an introduction to the major visual traditions in Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, with a particular attention on Bolognese art. It examines the development of art and architecture in Italy, and the effects that the Italian society, economy and politics had on the production of art during these centuries. Works of art will be studied through basic methods that will show their intellectual, religious and social connections to a larger historical context. A part of the course will be made of visits that will allow a direct observation of artworks. Some lessons will be held in churches or museums in order to understand better the original context of each masterpiece. Course Objectives: By the end of this course, students should be able to: - define each artistic period (Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque); - identify and approximately date many works of art, and describe their main characteristics; - understand artworks in their social, religious and political contexts; - use some specific terminology related to the artistic techniques. Course Materials: Each section of this course is made of readings from the following texts: - The Age of Correggio and the Carracci: Emilian Painting of the 16th and 17th centuries (Washington National Gallery of Art) - A.W.A. Boschloo, Annibale Carracci in Bologna. Visible Reality in Art after the Council of Trent (The Hague Government Publishing Office) - F. Hartt, D. Wilkins, History of Italian Renaissance Art. Paintings, Sculpture, Architecture (Thames and Hudson; one copy of this book is in the SHC library) - F. Hauser, The Social History of Art (Routledge) - J. Shearman, Mannerism (Penguin) - G. Vasari, The Lives of the Artists (Penguin; three copies of this book are in the SHC library) - E. Welch, Art in Renaissance Italy (Oxford University Press) - R. Wittkower, Art and Architecture in Italy: 1600 to 1750 (Penguin) It is warmly suggested to have a look at the original books in order to understand better the complexity of the material and the method adopted by the authors. To this purpose, a list of the main libraries in Bologna where you can study and find the material for your research will be prepared. You can also check the correct location of books and their collection numbers through the website of Bolognese libraries: In addition, since you are in Italy, it is strongly recommended to see as much as you can from real life or through color images rather than photocopies ( A camera is a useful tool to document visits and field trips. A list of places to visit nearby Bologna will be prepared. Frequent on site lessons are planned for this class. Students will be required to pay for trains, busses and museum entry fees. Please, remember to set aside approximately 150 to be used for cultural field trips. Exams: At the end of each section of the course there will be a 90 minutes in-class exam. The first exam (02/12) will consist of two questions referring to the reading material assigned in the first section of the course and to the notes taken in class. Students will be also required to identify two works of 1

2 art discussed in this section. The lack of a written answer to one of the questions or an incorrect comment will penalize the final evaluation. This exam will be worth 15% of the final grade. The second exam (03/10) will consist of two questions referring to the reading material assigned in the second section of the course and to the notes taken in class. Students will be also required to identify two works of art discussed in this section. The lack of a written answer to one of the questions or an incorrect comment will penalize the final evaluation. This will be worth 15% of the final grade. The final exam (04/16) will consist of four questions. Two questions will refer to the reading materials assigned in the final part of the course and to what has been said during the lectures of the section. The other two questions will refer to the reading materials assigned in the first and the second section of the course, and again to those lectures. The lack of a written answer to one of the questions or an incorrect comment will penalize the final evaluation. This will be worth 20% of the final grade. Written Requirements: Essay: one original research paper of words (6-8 typed pages) is required for this course. Students must choose a painting, a sculpture or an architecture discussed in class. They have to answer questions relating to the context in which the artwork chosen was created, and compare it with other works of art of the same artist and of contemporaries. Students must demonstrate to have developed a critical eye and have understood how to look at works of art through some basic research. As well as the content of the papers and the method used, also the form adopted will be taken into consideration. The use of sources (ideas, quotations, etc.) in the essays and the Bibliography must be properly documented in MLA format. The course Bibliography will be a valid help and a starting point for further readings. Students are expected to cite at least one book and one article on the artist and/or the artwork. Web sources are allowed on the base of their consistency, and only if written by scholars of the matter (e.g. Wikipedia will not be accepted as scholarly source). Images must be part of the research paper. A detailed outline with an index and the Bibliography selected is required by Tuesday, March 3. Late papers will be marked down one-half of a letter grade per day. I will not accept papers more than two days late. The paper will be worth 20% of the final grade. Presentations: Students will be divided into couples and required to make presentations at the Brera National Gallery in Milan (04/11). Each presentation will be roughly 15 minutes, and must be accompanied by a data sheet of relevant information regarding the work of art presented. In addition, group members are required to submit an action plan by Thursday, March 19, detailing a rough outline of the presentation and including individual assignments for each group member. By the beginning of March, I will communicate the couple of students and the artists assigned. The presentations will be worth 20% of the final grade. Academic policies: All works submitted in this course must be your own and be written exclusively for the course. The use of sources (ideas, quotations, etc.) in essays must be properly documented in MLA format. Plagiarism and cheating on the exams are grounds for failure in the course. Plagiarism is copying the exact words of another work without using quotation marks and providing reference, and using facts, information or ideas from another work without providing credit in brackets, footnotes or endnotes to the source of the information or ideas. Submission of a paper copied from another work, or which contains fictitious or falsified notes risks automatic failure of the course. If you have a disability (physical or learning) that you think may affect your performance in this class, please inform me early so that we can discuss whatever accommodation may be available. Grades Chart: points A A B B grade awarded 2

3 82-81 B C C C D D D F Attendance and Participation: Attendance and participation are crucial to the successful completion of this course that is mainly based on on-site visits. Attendance at classes is required to all students. Students are expected to arrive on time, having completed the course readings and assignments, with a pen, paper and books in-hand. Students are expected to read the daily to keep abreast of important academic issues. It is the student s responsibility to notify me of an anticipated absence, make arrangements to complete the work, and then complete the work as agreed. Students who will come to lesson with a delay of more than 5 minutes, will be considered absent. In the event a student misses more than two classes he/she will automatically be marked down one grade point. A student may be absent two times before being penalized. For example, if a student is expected to receive a B for this course, but has two unexcused absences on his/her report, the final grade for the course will be dropped to a B-. Excused absences require a note from the Spring Hill medical Doctor or from Dr. Todd Waller. Any change in status which will result in absence, the student must contact me immediately. It is a student s responsibility to keep him/herself informed of pending strikes and any other potential obstacles that may prohibit one from being at class on time. Excuses related to travel delays will not be accepted. Examinations missed by reason of absence must be made up at my convenience. Students are required to familiarize themselves with the course schedule and should not attempt to make travel plans that may conflict with course meetings, on-site visits and exams. Furthermore, if students do not show active engagement with the issues we discuss in class, their grade (and the entire class) will suffer. It might be possible that I decide for unexpected tests if I notice that students are not completing the work assigned for each class. Attendance and active participation will account for 10% of the total grade. Classroom Etiquette Eating is not permitted in the classrooms. Bottled water is permitted. Cell phones must be turned off during class time. The use of personal laptops and other electronic handheld devices are prohibited in the classroom unless otherwise specified by the professor. Proper clothing is required, in particular when visiting churches. Grading Summary: Exam #1 (15%); Exam #2 (15%); Exam #3 (20%); Essay (20%); Presentation (20%); Attendance and Participation (10%). 3

4 Tentative Class Schedule Class 1: Introduction and presentation of the course. The Renaissance and the Revolution of the Arts in Italy Class 2: Class 3: Class 4: Class 5: Class 6: Class 7: The concept of the Renaissance and Giorgio Vasari s Lives of the Artists. (Vasari: 3-6, 47-58) Architecture of the Central Italian Renaissance. (Hartt and Wilkins: , ; Vasari: , ) Sculpture of the Central Italian Renaissance (Hartt and Wilkins: ; Vasari: , ) Field trip to Florence. (Hartt and Wilkins: , ) Painting of the Central Italian Renaissance (Hartt and Wilkins: , ) The Renaissance in Venice and Northern Italy. (Hartt and Wilkins: , ) Class 8: The Renaissance in Bologna. Visit to the churches of S. Giacomo, S. Maria della Vita and S. Petronio. (Welch: ) Class 9: First exam. High Renaissance and Mannerism in Italy Class 10: Class 11: Class 12: Class 13: Class 14: Class 15: Painters of the High Renaissance: Leonardo. (Vasari: ) Painters of the High Renaissance: Raphael. (Vasari: ) The concept of Mannerism. (Shearmann: 15-30, 49-70, ) Michelangelo. (Vasari: ) Michelangelo and Raphael in Bologna. Visit to the churches of S. Giovanni in Monte and S. Domenico. Outline of final papers due. High Renaissance and Mannerism in Venice. (Hartt and Wilkins: ) 4

5 Class 16: Second exam. From the Counter-Reformation to the Italian Baroque Class 17: The aesthetic of the Counter-Reformation: the Discorso Intorno alle immagini sacre e profane by Gabriele Paleotti. (Boschloo: ) Class 18: The Carracci Reform of Painting in Bologna (1). (Dempsey: ) Action plan of presentations due. Class 19: The Carracci Reform of Painting in Bologna (2). Visit to the churches of SS. Gregorio and Siro, and of S. Paolo Maggiore. Class 20: Class 21: Class 22: Class 23: Class 24: The Baroque and its artists (1): Caravaggio. (Hauser: ; Wittkower: 45-56) The Baroque and its artists (2): Bernini and Borromini. (Wittkower: ) Field trip to Milan. Final discussion on the course and suggestions. Final exam and handing in of the research papers. 5