MICHELANGELO: Los Angeles/Italy Professor Frank ARTH 373 Fall 2013/14 Course Description This course is designed as an introduction to the life and work of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). We will investigate his painting, sculpture and architecture, while considering its context within the major urban cultural centers in which he worked: Florence and Rome. The course will proceed chronologically, but will vary from week to week as to relevant themes and methodological approaches to the career of arguably the most influential of all Renaissance artists. Among those topics to be examined during the course are: development and dissolution of a classical vocabulary; relationships between style and technique; art, biography and self promotion; the relationship between Christianity and sexuality for Michelangelo and the Cinquecento; patronage and context in Florence and Rome; the development of classical form; meaning and controversy in the cleaned Sistine Chapel Ceiling. Course Outcomes Students in this course should have a good understanding of the relationship between the cultural, political and artistic context that Michelangelo was a part of and how this affected his art. Changing geographic locations and differences in patronage also should be clearly understood throughout this course. How Michelangelo s visual expression is related to his poetry should also be clear. The evolution of his style from about 1480 until his death is 1564 should also be clearly understood. Finally, the role that Vasari s writing has in establishing Michelangelo s reputation, should be understood. Course Requirements Paramount to the successful completion of this course is attendance at each lecture. The development of the materials in this class derives from the weekly lectures: you will be lost if you rely only on the reading. You cannot pass this course unless you attend each class. If you should miss a lecture for any reason it is essential that you recover the material from a classmate. This class period will be planned as a lecture period, but there will be enough flexibility built into the meeting to allow discussion. Responsibility for discussion rests entirely on you. Two exams will be given. They are clearly marked on the syllabus. In addition, you will be required to write three short critical studies of scholarship in the form of articles related to the material discussed in class. These will be assigned as the course proceeds. IMPORTANTLY, THIS COURSE INCLUDED A THREE WEEK STUDY TRIP TO ITALY IN JANUARY, 2014. ALMOST 90% OF THE WORKS WE ILL STUDY IN LOS ANGELES WE WILL STUDY ON SITE IN ITALY. A PARTIAL LIST OF THE SITES TO BE VISITED IN JANUARY (ONLY SITES DIRECTLY RELATED TO MICHELANGELO ARE LISTED AT THE END OF THIS SYLLABUS, BUT WE WILL VISIT OTHER SITES AS WELL)
Office Hours: Reading: Required Texts (available at the Bookstore) J. Ackerman, The Architecture of Michelangelo, N.Y., 1986 H. Hibbard Michelangelo, N.Y., 1985. R. King, Michelangelo and the Pope s Ceiling, N.Y. 2003 Michelangelo, Poems and Letters with 1550 Vasari Life, trans A. Mortimer, N.Y. 2008 Electronic Reserve From time to time over the course of term additional readings will be assigned from the course These are an essential part of the course and should be treated as equal to the required texts. I will Images All required images presented and discussed alone form the backbone of the course and it is essential that you treat them as such. You will be responsible for all of these images. Requirements Three in-class exams: 10% each = 30% Two critical papers: 10% each = 20% Capstone experience in Italy 50% EXAM DATES ARE CLEARLY MARKED IN SYLLABUS CRITICAL PAPERS WILL BE ASSIGNED IN DUE COURSE S Y LL A B U S Week 1 INTRODUCTION, COURSE MECHANICS Reading: No assigned reading Week 2 EARLY TRAINING: MYTH, REALITY AND THE MEDICI Changing notions of "training" in the quattrocento. Vasari, historiography and the beginning of the myth of Michelangelo. works: Battle Relief, Madonna of the Steps Reading: Hibbard, pp. 11-29 Visits in Italy: Casa Buonarroti, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, Brancacci Chapel, Medici Palace
Week 3 CULTURAL EXPOSURE: BOLOGNA AND ROME Nascent notions and definitions of the High Renaissance. Relationships to antiquity and evolving liturgical concerns. Political connections. Return to Florence. works: Crucifix, Candelabrum Angel, Bacchus, Roman Pietà Reading: Hibbard, pp. 29 Visits in Italy: Casa Buonarroti, Bargello, Saint Peter s, Siena Cathedral Week 4 AROUND DAVID: BIOGRAPHY AND SYNTHESIS Florentine precedents, types and meaning. Character of the commission, issues urrounding placement and political character. Meaning of the tondo form. works: David, Doni Tondo, Pitti Tondo, Taddei Tondo, Bruges Madonna Reading: Hibbard, pp. 51-74 Visits in Italy: Bargello, Uffizi, Accademia Week 5 PREPARATION AND FIRST STEPS TO ROME The tomb of Julius II Private and public patronage in Florence at end century. Patterns of failure. Drawing and sculpture. Michelangelo and Leonardo. works: Battle of Cascina, Saint Matthew Reading: Hibbard, pp. 51-74 Visits in Italy: Saint Peter s, Palazzo Vecchio, Accademia, Florence Cathedral Week 6 ROME, REVONATIO ET INSTAURTIO AND THE AMBITIONS OF JULIUS II Scale, struggle and URBIS ET ORBI. works: plans and precedents for the Tomb of Julius II Reading: Hibbard, pp. 51-74 Visits in Italy: Sainr Peter s Treasury of Saint Peters, Sant Andrea della Valle. Week 7 THE SISTINE CHAPEL: A PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE WORLD Context and early planning. Dynasty, ecclesiastical ambition and the della Rovere family. works: The Vatican around 1500, The Sistine Chapel. Visits in Italy: Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum, Vatican Pinacoteca, Arch of Constantine Reading: Hibbard, pp. 99-146; King (over next two weeks) Week 8 THE SISTINE CHAPEL: COLOR, MEANING, AND CONTEXT
Continuity and change in Michelangelo s style. Architecture as meaning: first appearance. The Chapel as sacred envelope. works: The Sistine Chapel Reading: Hibbard, pp. 99-146; King (over next two weeks) Visits in Italy: Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum, Vatican Pinacoteca, Arch of Constantine Week 9 SEX, DEATH AND THE HEROIC: RELIGION AND DESIRE AFTER 1512 Flesh, spirit and assigned style after 1512. works: Julius Tomb, Dying Slave, Rebellious Slave, Moses, Risen Christ Reading: Hibbard, pp. 148-175; Ackerman, pp. 25-94 Visits in Italy: San Pietro in Vincoli, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, The Pantheon Week 10 RETURN TO FLORENCE AND THE RENOVATIO MEDICEI Tradition and innovation in the genesis of the New Sacristy. works: facade, San Lorenzo, Medici Chapel Sculpture Reading: Hibbard, pp. 177-208 Visits in Italy: San Lorenzo, Old Sacristy, Medici Chapel Week 11 INSTAURATIO MEDICEI: ARTISTIC PROGRAM AS PROMOTION The Laurentian Library and the Medici Chapel as private and public program. Architecture and/or sculpture? Can architecture be mannerist? works: Medici Chapel architecture, the Laurentian Library Reading: Hibbard, pp. 209-220; Ackerman, pp. 95-119. Visits in Italy: Laurentian Library, Medici Chapel Week 12 1534-1547 INTELLECTUAL RESTLESSNESS AND THE CATHOLIC REFORM New introspection and the fractive cultural environment. Love, beauty and Vittoria Colonna and Tommaso Cavalieri. The private as public: presentation drawings and the sonnet. works: The Last Judgement, drawings for Cavalieri and Colonna Reading: Hibbard, pp. 220-266; Ackerman, pp.120-135. Visits in Italy: Casa Buonarroti, Sistine Chapel
Week 13 ROME AGAIN: COPRORATE CONFIDENCE Secular and ecclesiastic architectural patronage. Symbolism and urban renewal. works: Capitoline Hill, Farnese Palace, The Basilica of Saint Peters Reading: Hibbard, p. 291-308; Ackerman, pp. 136-220, 243-282 Visits in Italy: Capitoline Hill, Capitoline Museums, Piazza Farnese, Saint Peter s Week 13 ROME AGAIN: PERSONAL AGONY Private patronage and the changing notion of the purposes of art. Hints at new directions and seeds of a new medievalism. Rest and resolution. works: The Pauline Chapel, The Julius Tomb, finally Visits in Italy;: The Pauline Chapel Reading: Hibbard, pp. 267-280. Week 15 DEATH AND IL DIVINO: WHAT END? Rest (?) resolution and the denial of the physical. A new medievalism? Of death, estates, and lots of money under the bed. The legacy of Michelangelo. works: Pietà, Rondanini Pietà, late drawings. Reading: Hibbard, pp. 280-290. Visits in Italy: Museo dell Opera del Duomo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIST OF SITES IN ITALY Florence Florence Bargello Orsanmichele Pazzi Chapel San Lorenzo Medici Plalace Santa Croce Santa Maria Novella Palazzo Vecchio The Uffizi Accademia Baptistery
Brancacci Chapel Museo del Opera del Duomo Laurentian Library Medici Chapel Sant Appolonia San Marco Casa Buonarroti Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore Siena Cathedral and Baptistery Palazzo Pubblico Rome Sistine Chapel Vatican Museum Saint Peter s San Giovanni dei Fiorentini Capitoline Museums Museo Nazionale Romano Palazzo Farnese Capitoline Piazza Porta Pia