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ART 204: History of Western Art

Ancient

Syllabus

ART 204

IMPORTANT NOTE: This web-version syllabus is provided for your convenience. It is NOT intended to take the place of in-class materials or information. Changes or additions MAY be announced in class.

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Instructor:  betsy VanderSchaaf            
Office:       128 Art (Bldg. 11)
Phone:      463-5415 or (Art Office) 463-5409

Course Objectives:  Our class will scrutinize artistic production in Europe and the Near East from the earliest known works produced by the human hand (e.g., the “cave paintings”) through the fall of the Roman Empire and (time permitting) the transition to early Christian-Byzantine art.  We will investigate the crucial relationship of art to the cultures that produced it through a close examination of archaeological, social, historical and political contexts.  Our goal is to understand the complex fabric of previous eras, to discover how the visual arts are embedded in this fabric, and to make connections to our own lives and time.  This will be lots more fun than it sounds.

Required text:  Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, 12th edition 
Important Text Info:
Gardner’s text is available in two different formats, a 2-volume paperback edition or a hardcover edition which includes the same material as the 2-volume edition.  The text information and illustrations are identical in the two formats.  Students planning to enroll for Art 204 only may wish to buy Volume 1 only of the 2-volume paperback edition.  Those of you planning also to enroll in ART 205 and/or 206 should buy the complete hardcover edition.  Earlier editions (8th-11th) of Gardner may be available secondhand, and you are welcome to use them (don’t buy an edition earlier than the 8th edition, however.) 

There are also (at least) two other textbooks which contain essentially the same (or very similar) information.  These also may be available secondhand, and you are welcome to use them instead of Gardner:
Hartt, Art: History of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture (3rd or 4th edition)
Janson, History of Art (4th edition)
Copies of all three of these textbooks are on permanent reserve in the LCC Library.
Other materials on reserve in the LCC Library:
          R. Higgins, Minoan and Mycenaean Art (N 5660 H5)
          S. Lloyd, Art of the Ancient Near East (N 5345 L55)
          J. Mellaart, Earliest Civilizations of the Near East (CB 301 M38)
          S. Woodford, Art of Greece and Rome

Course Requirements:  Come to class.  Your performance in fulfilling the fundamental objectives of this course will be based on your ability to recognize chronological periods, styles, terminology, specific artefacts and dates, and to discuss and analyze these concepts within a broader cultural context.  There will be in-class exams given during the term.  The format of the exams will be described and discussed in class. 
NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN. 
Attendance is essential, and does count toward your final grade.

Grading Policy:  Your recorded term grade will be based on the percentage you earn of the total points possible for the three exams (and for any additional requirements which may be assigned.)  My belief is that your success and the value of this class to you (and your value to the class) can be more accurately gauged by your interest, curiosity, participation and passion.  Percentages are as follows:

98-100% = A+
94-97%   = A
90-93%   = A-

87-89%   = B+
84-86%   = B
80-83%   = B-

77-79%   = C+
74-76%   = C
70-73%   = C-

60-69%   = D
below 60% failing grade

Note:  If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations through Disability Services.  For more information, contact Disability Services at  (541) 463-5150 (voice) or 463-3079 (TTY), or stop by Building 1,
Room 218.

FYI:  Tutor Central (CEN 210) offers FREE tutoring assistance as well as a nice study environment.  Tutors are available for writing, MTH 010 and 020, Effective Learning and many other subjects.  Most tutors are also current students and can offer ideas to assist you with any subject.  Tutor Central also has two group study rooms and a quiet study room.  DON’T DELAY.  Statistics show that students who get tutoring help early in the term achieve significantly higher grades.

SAMPLE LECTURE SCHEDULE & READING ASSIGNMENTS

Following is a sample lecture schedule for Art 204.  Since this course is organized in response to group investigation of the visual and contextual material, some deviation from the following schedule may occur.

Page numbers refer to the text, Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, 12th edition. 

1st Week
Introduction to art history; Paleolithic Art
READ:  Gardner, Introduction; Chapter 1 (“The Birth of Art”)

2nd Week
Neolithic Art; Prehistoric & Early Dynastic Sumer
READ:  Gardner, pp. 24-52; recommended: Mellart, pp. 81-101, Lloyd, pp. 79-114
Tips on composing slide/essay exams

3rd Week
Akkadian and Neo-Sumerian Art; Archaic & Old Kingdom Egypt
READ:  Gardner, pp. 55-68; recommended: Lloyd, pp. 7-78

4th Week
Old Kingdom Egypt; quiz review
READ:  Gardner, pp. 68-82; recommended: Lloyd, pp. 115-128, 151-192
First Quiz

5th Week
Middle Kingdom Egypt; New Kingdom Egypt and the Amarna Revolution 
Minoan Art

READ:  Gardner, pp. 86-102; recommended: Higgins

6th Week
Mycenaean Art; Greek Geometric Art
Archaic Greek Art; The Early Classical
READ:  Gardner, pp.105-129; highly recommended: Woodford, pp. 1-52

7th Week
Exam Review
EXAM

8th Week
Classical Greek Art
READ:  Gardner, pp. 129-144; highly recommended: Woodford, pp. 53-82

9th Week
Hellenistic Art; Etruscan Art; introduction to the Romans (some of them)
READ:  Gardner, pp. 145-164 & pp. 234-250
Thursday: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

10th Week
Roman Art (continued)
READ:  Gardner, pp. 251-298; recommended: Woodford, pp. 83-115
Final Review

11th Week
FINAL EXAMS

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Instructor Updates

ART 204

Please check this section frequently for instructor updates, or class cancelations.

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ART 204

You are responsible for the information listed below. Numbers in parentheses refer to

illustrations in your text, "Gardner's Art Through the Ages", 12th edition.

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ORIGINS:

Paleolithic Art
Venus of Willendorf. c. 28,000-25,000 B.C. Limestone, height 4 1/4" (1-4)
Bison with turned head. c. 12,000 B.C. Reindeer horn, l. 4" (1-8)
Hall of Bulls. c. 15,000-13,000 B.C. Lascaux, France (1-11)

Neolithic Art
Great stone tower (settlement wall, Jericho) c. 8000-7000 BCE. Lifesize (1-14)
Landscape with volcanic eruption(?), Catal Huyuk. c. 6150 B.C. (1-18)

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MESOPOTAMIA:

Protoliterate Sumer, 3500-3000 B.C.
The White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk, Iraq. c. 3200-3000 B.C. (2-1, 2-2, cf. 2-14)
Female Head (Inanna?), from Uruk. c. 3200-3000 B.C. Marble, height 8" (2-3)

Early Dynastic Sumer, 3000-2340 B.C.
Votive statuettes, from Abu Temple, Eshnuanna (Tell Asmar). c. 2700 B.C. Marble, ht. of tallest figure c. 30" (Lecture and 2-5)
"Standard" of Ur, c. 2600 B.C. (2-8)

Akkadian Period, 2340-2180 B.C.
Head of an Akkadian Ruler, c. 2250-2200 B.C. (2-12)
Victory Stele of Naram-Sin. c. 2254-2218 B.C. Stone, height 6'6" (2-13)

Neo-Sumerian Period
Gudea holding temple plan, c. 2100 B.C. (2-15)

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EGYPT:

Archaic Period, c. 3500-2665 B.C. Dynasties 1 & 2.
Palette of King Narmer, c. 3000-2920 B.C. Slate, height 25" (3-2)

Old Kingdom. Dynasties 3-5.
Stepped Pyramid and mortuary precinct of King Zoser (Djoser), Saqqara. c. 2630-2611 B.C. IMHOTEP. (3-4 - 3-7)
Hesire, from Saqqara. c. 2630-2611 B.C. Wood relief, height 45" (Intro-14)
The Pyramids of Khufu (c. 2551-2528 B.C.), Khafre (c. 2520-2494 B.C.), and Menkaure (c. 2490-2472 B.C.), Giza (3-8 - 3-11)
King Khafre, from Giza. c. 2520-2494 B.C. Diorite, height 66" (3-12)
Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt. Painted limestone relief. c. 2450-2350 B.C. from mastaba tomb of Ti, Saqqara (3-16)

Middle Kingdom, Dynasties 11 & 12
Rock-cut tombs, Beni Hasan, c. 1950-1900 B.C. (3-19. 3-20)

New Kingdom, Dynasties 18-20
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el Bahari. c. 1473-1458 B.C. SENMUT. (3-21)
Paintings from tomb of Nebamun, Thebes, c. 1400-1350 B.C. (3-30, 3-31)
King Akhenaten [Amenhotep IV]. c. 1353-1335 B.C. Sandstone, height 13' (3-32)
Queen Nefertiti. c. 1353-1335 B.C. Painted limestone, height 20" (3-33)

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AEGEAN:

Cycladic
Male lyre Player. c. 2700-2500 B.C. Marble, height 9" (4-2)

Minoan
Palace [of Minos], Knossos, Crete. c. 1700-1400 B.C. (4-3, 4-4, 4-5)
Bull leaping (Toreador fresco). from Palace at Knossos, c. 1450-1400 B.C. (4-7)
Marine Style Octopus jar, c. 1800-1700 B.C. height 11" (4-11)
Snake Goddess, from Knossos. c. 1600 B.C. Faience, height 13 1/2" (4-14)

Mycenaean
Citadel at Tiryns, Greece, c. 1400-1200 B.C. (4-16 4-19)
The Lion Gate, Mycenae, Greece. c. 1300-1250 B.C. (4-20)
Funerary mask from royal tombs at Mycenae, c. 1600-1500 B.C. Gold. (4-23)

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GREEK ART:

Geometric Period, c. 800-600 B.C.
"Athens 804," Geometric amphora from the Dipylon Cemetery, c. 750 B.C. (LECTURE; cf.5-1)

Archaic Period, c. 600-480 B.C.
Anavyssos Kouros ("Kroisos"). c. 530 B.C. Marble, height 6'4" (5-10)
Peplos Kore. c. 530 B.C. Marble, height 48" (5-11)
Temple of Hera I, ("Basilica"). c. 550 B.C., Paestum, Italy (5-13, 5-14)
Doric and Ionic orders (see pp. 116-117)
EXEKIAS. Achilles and Ajax Gaming, Attic black-figure amphora, c. 540-530 B.C. (5-19)
EUTHYMIDES. Three revelers. Attic red-figured amphora. c. 510 B.C. (5-22)
Dying Warrior, from E. pediment Temple of Aphaia, Aegina. c. 500-490 B.C. (5-28, cf. 5-27)

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Classical Period (Ea. & High Classical = 480-400 B.C.; Late Classical = 400-323 B.C.
Kritios Boy, from Acropolis, Athens. c. 480 B.C. Marble, height 34" (5-33)
Charioteer, from the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. c. 470 B.C. Bronze, h. 5'11" (5-35)
MYRON. Diskobolos (Discus Thrower). c.450 B.C. Roman copy after bronze original. height 5'1". (5-37)
POLYKLEITOS. Doryphoros (Spear Bearer). c. 450-440 B.C. Roman copy after bronze original, height 6'11" (5-38)
IKTINOS, KALLIKRATES. The Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens. 447-438 B.C. (5-42 - 5-48)
The Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens. 421-405 B.C. (5-50, 5-51, 5-52)
PRAXITELES. Hermes and the infant Dionysos. c. 340 B.C. Marble (copy), h. 7'1" (5-62)
LYSIPPOS. Apoxyomenos (Scraper). c. 330 B.C. Roman marble copy of a bronze original. Height 6'9" (5-65)

Hellenistic Period, 323-31 B.C.
Altar of Zeus from Pergamum c. 175 B.C. Marble, ht. of relief 7'6" (5-78, 5-79)
Dying Gaul. c. 230-220 B.C. Roman copy of bronze original from Pergamum. Marble, lifesize. (5-81, cf. 5-80)
Nike of Samothrace. c. 190 B.C. Marble, height c. 8'. (5-82)
Laocoon and his sons. early 1st century B.C. Marble, height c. 8'. (5-89)

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ETRUSCAN ART:

Apollo from temple at Veii. c. 510-500 B.C. Painted terracotta, height 5'11". (9-3)
Sarcophagus, from Cerveteri. c. 520 B.C. Painted terracotta, length 6'7" (9-4)
Tomb of the Leopards, Tarquinia, c. 480-470 B.C. (9-8)

ROMAN ART:

Roman Republican Art (509-27 B.C.)
Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, Praeneste (Palestrina). late 2nd century B.C. (10-3)
Head of a Roman patrician, c. 75-50 B.C. Marble, height c. 14" (10-6)
Atrium of the House of the Vettii, 2nd century B.C., remodelled! 62-79 A.D. (10-13)
Dionysiac Mystery frieze. 2nd Style, c. 60-50 B.C. Villa of Mysteries, Pompeii (10-15)

Roman Imperial Art (31 B.C.-337 A.D.)
Augustus from Primaporta. c. 15 A.D. (Copy of 20 B.C. bronze original) Marble, 6'8" (10-25)
Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome. 13-9 B.C. Marble (10-27, 10-28, 10-29)
Colosseum, Rome. c. 70-80 A.D. (10-34)
Column of Trajan, Rome. Dedicated 112 A.D. Marble, ht. of relief band c. 50" (10-42)
The Pantheon, Rome. 118-25 A.D. (10-48, 10-49, 10-50)
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. c. 175 A.D. Bronze, h. c. 11'6" (10-59)
Constantine the Great. c. 315-330 A.D. Marble, height 8'6" (10-78)

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ART:

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus. c. 359 A.D. (11-5)
Reconstruction of Old St. Peter's, Rome, begun c. 320 A.D. (11-7)
Parting of Lot and Abraham. Mosaic. c. 432-40 A.D. Sta. Maria Maggiore, Rome (11-13)

BYZANTINE ART:

Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey). 532-37 A.D. (12-3, 12-4, 12-5)
S. Vitale, Ravenna, 526-47 A.D. (12-6 - 12-9) AND
Emperor Justinian and Attendants; Empress Theodora and Her Attendants. Mosaic. c. 547 A.D. S. Vitale (12-10 & 12-11)
Vladimir Virgin, late 11th-ea. 12th century. Icon. Tempera on wood (12-29)

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