| Unit name | Introduction to Medieval Art |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HART10215 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Dent |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History of Art (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit introduces students to European painting, sculpture, prints and architecture of the Medieval and Early Modern period. It will follow a broadly chronological but also thematic pattern. It will acquaint students with major buildings, works of art of different forms, and personalities of the period. In doing so, it will investigate issues such as civic, religious and dynastic identities, gender, patronage, iconography, and theoretical and scientific advances and will reflect upon the ways in which art of this period has been treated in the secondary literature in the past, and is now being treated as a result of new approaches and recent research.
Aims:
The unit aims to provide a broad chronological survey of art during the medieval and early modern periods. Within this broad survey the unit has three principal objectives: to acquaint students with major buildings, works of art and personalities of the period; to introduce students to key issues and concepts connected with the study of this material, such as style, patronage, function and interpretation; and to reflect upon the ways in which medieval and early-modern art has been treated in the secondary literature in the past, and is now being treated as a result of new approaches and recent research.
By the end of this unit, the students should:
1. have gained a broad chronological understanding of the development of art production and consumption during this period;
2. be acquainted with a group of major buildings and works of art produced during this period
3. be able to reflect upon these objects in their historical context
4. be able to assess some of the ways in which art was used and consumed by patrons, both individual and institutional
5. be aware of different approaches to medieval and early modern art, and be able to reflect critically upon these different approaches
Students will have been given the opportunity to tackle some of the key issues and concepts connected with the study of the art of this period, and given the opportunity to develop their visual recognition, iconographical skills and visual analysis.
* Two one-hour lectures per week * Fortnightly small-group discussion seminars * Feedback on 2500-word essay * Additional access to tutors in Office Hours
2-hour examination
* J. Beckwith, Early Medieval Art, London, 1969 * M. Camille, Gothic Art, London, 1996 * V. Sekules, Medieval Art, Oxford, 2001 * S. Nash, Northern Renaissance Art, Oxford, 2008 * M. Baxandall, Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-century Italy, Oxford, 1988 * J. Paoletti and G. Radke, Art in Renaissance Italy, London, 2005
