| Unit name | Art and Science in Renaissance Italy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HART22214 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Mr. Lilley |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History of Art (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit explores the sophisticated dialogue between art and science, between image making and scientific enquiry, during the Italian Renaissance when technology, science and art were interconnected. The modern distinction between science and art was non-existent, and for the most part these two disciplines were allied in both theory and practice. Early Renaissance artists like Brunelleschi, Alberti and da Vinci exhibited unprecedented interest in the scientific nature of optics and colour as they affected artisitic creativity. Da Vinci, as well as Vesalius and Galileo, used visual imagery as a crucial tool in the process and dissemination of Renaissance science in such varied fields as engineering, anatomy, medicine and astronomy. The unit also investigates the significant dual role of Renaissance court patronage in furthering both the visual arts and scientific enquiry. This unit is offered through the History of Art Study Abroad Programme in Florence.
