Course Syllabus                    Monument List

ART 205: History of Western Art

Medieval through Renaissance

Syllabus

ART 205

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:  This class will begin by scrutinizing the developments in European art created after the fall of the Roman Empire, largely in the service of the Christian (Catholic) Church, and will proceed to focus on the art of the High Renaissance Ninja Turtles (remember those guys?—Ever wonder who they really were?) and their contemporaries.  We will investigate the crucial relationship of art to the culture that produced it through a close examination of social, historical, philosophical 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.  You will need either the big hard-cover edition, OR both paperback volumes 1&2 for this course.  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 (4th edition)
          Janson, History of Art (4th or 5th edition)
Copies of the Gardner, Hartt and Janson texts are on reserve in the LCC Library.

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

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, curiousity, 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 205.  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; Art of Late Antiquity and Byzantine Art
Early Medieval Art
READ:  pp. 421-444; recommended:  pp. 301-354

2nd Week
Romanesque Art
READ:  pp. 447-476

3rd Week
Gothic Art; Exam Review
READ:  pp. 479-518

4th Week
FIRST EXAM
Italian 14th-century Art
READ:  pp. 521-542

5th Week
Italian 14th-Century Art (cont.);
15th-century Italian Art (Early Renaissance)
READ:  pp. 573-610

6th Week
Early Renaissance (continued)

7th Week
Exam Review--STUDENT ORGANIZED
SECOND EXAM

8th Week
Intro to High Renaissance with our host Leonardo
READ:  pp. 613-632

9th Week
High Renaissance (cont.); what’s up with Venice
15th-Century Art in Northern Europe
READ:  pp. 638-643; pp. 545-570

10th Week
16th-Century Art in Northern Europe; Review for Final
READ:  pp. 663-672

11th Week
FINAL EXAMS

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Key Monuments in the History of Western Art

ART 205

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

illustrations in your text, "Gardner's Art Through the Ages", 11th edition.

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EARLY MEDIEVAL ART:

The Migration Period
Purse cover from the Sutton Hoo Ship-Burial. c. 625 A.D. (16-2)

Carolingian Art
St. Matthew, from the Ebbo Gospels. 816-35 A.D. (16-13)

Ottonian Art
Bronze doors for St. Michael's, commissioned by Bishop Bernward. 1015. (16-25)
Annunciation to the Shepherds, from Lectionary of Henry II. 1002-14. (16-28)

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ROMANESQUE ART:

St.-Sernin, Toulouse. c. 1070-1120. (17-1 - 17-3)
West facade, St.-Etienne, Caen. begun 1067. (17-9)
Old Testament Prophet (Jeremiah?), trumeau, St.-Pierre, Moissac. c. 1115-30. (17-23)
Last Judgment by Gislebertus, west tympanum of St.-Lazare, Autun. c. 1120-35. (17-25)
Moses Expounding the Law, from Bury Bible, c. 1135 (17-38)

GOTHIC ART:

Ambulatory & radiating chapels, Abbey Church of St.-Denis. 1140-44. (18-1 - 18-3)
Laon Cathedral, c. 1160-1205. (18-7 - 18-9)
Chartres Cathedral, begun 1134, rebuilt 1194-1220. (18-4 & 18-12 - 18-15)
Royal (west) Portal, Chartres Cathedral. c. 1145-55. (18-5 & 18-6)
Jamb statues, south transept portal, Chartres Cathedral. c. 1220-30. (18-16 & 18-17)
Abraham and the three Angels, from Psalter of St. Louis, 1253-70. (18-34)

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ITALIAN 14th-CENTURY ("PROTO-RENAISSANCE") ART:

NICOLA PISANO:
Pulpit of the Pisa Baptistery. 1259-60. (19-2 & 19-3; cf. 19-4)

CIMABUE:
Madonna Enthroned. c. 1280-90. (19-6)

DUCCIO:
Maesta Altarpiece panels. 1309-11. (19-16 &19-17)

GIOTTO:
Arena (Scrovegni) Chapel, Padua (19-8)
The Lamentation. c. 1305. (19-9) DETAIL from the Arena Chapel
The Meeting at the Golden Gate. c. 1305. (19-10) Arena Chapel, Padua. DETAIL from the Arena Chapel

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EARLY RENAISSANCE ITALIAN ART:

BRUNELLESCHI:
The Sacrifice of Isaac. 1401-02. (21-1)
DOME of Florence Cathedral, 1420-36. (21-14)

GHIBERTI:
The Sacrifice of Isaac. 1401-02. (21-2)
"Gates of Paradise" (east doors of Florence Baptistery). 1425-52. (21-4 & 21-5)

NANNI DI BANCO:
Quattro Santi Coronati (Four Crowned Saints). c. 1408-14.Orsanmichele, Florence. (21-7)

DONATELLO:
St. Mark. 1411-13. Orsanmichele, Florence. (21-8)
Prophet (Zuccone), from campanile Florence Cathedral, 1423-25. (21-9)
David. c. 1428-32. (21-23)

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MASACCIO:
The Tribute Money. c. 1427. Fresco. Brancacci Chapel, Sta. Maria del Carmine, Florence. (21-11)
The Holy Trinity. c. 1428. (21-13)

PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA:
Resurrection. c. 1463. Fresco. (21-52)

FRA ANGELICO:
Annunciation. c. 1440-45. (21-38)

CASTAGNO:
The Last Supper. c. 1447. Fresco. (21-39)

MANTEGNA:
St. James Led to Martyrdom. Fresco (destroyed). c. 1455. (21-49)

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VERROCCHIO:
Equestrian Monument of Colleoni. c. 1483-88. (21-33)

BOTTICELLI:
The Birth of Venus. c. 1482. Tempera on canvas. (21-27)

PERUGINO:
Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter. 1481-83. Fresco. Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome. (21-42)

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BRAMANTE:
The Tempietto, S. Pietro in Montorio, Rome. 1502 (?). (22-8)

MICHELANGELO :
David. 1501-4. (22-9)
Sistine Chapel ceiling, 1508-12. Vatican. (22-13 - 22-16)

RAPHAEL :
Madonna of the Meadows. 1505. (22-19)
School of Athens. 1509-11. Stanza della Segnatura, Vatican, Rome. (22-17)

GIORGIONE:
The Tempest. c. 1510. (22-34)

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FIFTEENTH-CENTURY ART IN NORTHERN EUROPE:

CLAUS SLUTER:
The Well of Moses. 1395-1406. (20-2)

LIMBOURG BROTHERS :
Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. 1413-16. (20-1)

ROBERT CAMPIN:
The Merode Altarpiece (open). c. 1425-28. (20-11)

JAN VAN EYCK :
Arnolfini Wedding Portrait. 1434. (20-12 & 20-13)

ROGIER VAN DER WEYDEN :
Deposition. c. 1435. (20-6)

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HUGO VAN DER GOES:
The Portinari Altarpiece (open). c. 1476. (20-9)

HIERONYMOUS BOSCH:
Garden of Earthly Delights. 1505-10. (20-17)

SIXTEENTH-CENTURY ART IN NORTHERN EUROPE:

MATTHIAS GRUNEWALD:
The Isenheim Altarpiece. c. 1510-15. (23-1 & 23-2)

ALBRECHT DURER:
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. c. 1498. Woodcut, (intro-9, pg. xxxviii)
Knight, Death & the Devil. 1514. Engraving. (23-9)

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