HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL ART I channel 1
Chair (Coordinator) and Rapporteur: ANNA MARIA D'ACHILLE
Lecturers
Objectives
The main objective of the course is to provide a basic knowledge of Medieval Art History.
As regards specific objectives, students are expected to learn:
a) the ability to comprehend Medieval artworks in historic, stylistic, iconographic and technical terms;
b) the ability to describe them with the appropriate vocabulary of the discipline;
c) autonomy of critical judgement.
In order to pursue these targets, during the course students will be asked to take part actively in the analysis of artworks and monuments by employing the basic critical categories necessary to their correct framework. A parallel objective will be also the development of an adequate awareness about artistic heritage and its valorization. The themes and topics of the course, such as the competencies and abilities to learn, are part of the core curriculum of the Study Programme in Art History Sciences.
Learning outcomes
As regards specific outcomes, students are expected to learn:
a) the ability to comprehend Byzantine artworks in historic, stylistic, iconographic and technical terms;
b) the ability to describe them with the appropriate vocabulary of the discipline;
c) autonomy of critical judgement.
Prerequisites
There are no requirements
Programme
Art in Italy from the 4th to the 14th century.
This module aims to provide basic knowledge about Mediaeval Art History. The course will deal with the chronological matters and the main questions of the Italian artistic production from the 4th to the 14th century.
The course is reserved to students whose surnames’ initial letters are between A and C.
Course Articulation:
Besides indoor lessons, a series of guided tours focusing on some Medieval Rome monuments will be held.
Lessons 1-6: The idea of Medieval art and its periodization. The origin of Christian basilicas. Early Christian luxury arts.
Lessons 7-12: From Late Antiquity to the Byzantine age. Rome, Milan and Ravenna from the 4th to the 6th century. Rome in the Byzantine age and the church of S. Maria Antiqua.
Lessons 13-19: Early Middle Ages. The Lombards in Italy. Langobardia major and Langobardia minor. Problematic issues: Brescia, Castelseprio, Cividale, Benevento. The Carolingian renaissance: Milan and Rome. The Ottonian art.
Lessons 20-26: The Romanesque style: the origin of the term and the geography of the style in Italy (11th-12th century). Romanesque style in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna; Wiligelm and the cathedral of Modena. The Adriatic area.
Lessons 27-32: Central South Italy at the age of the Gregorian Reform: Rome and Montecassino abbey, Tuscany. The Southern Kingdom in the Norman age: from Apulia to Sicily.
Lessons 33-34: Gothic art in Europe and Italy. The role of Cistercian architecture. Mendicant Orders: Franciscan and Dominican churches. The great Italian cathedrals. Frederick II’s art.
Lesson 35: The renewal of sculpture: Nicola Pisano
Lessons 36-37: Arnolfo di Cambio
Lesson 38: Giovanni Pisano.
Lesson 39: The great Tuscan painters between the 13th and 14th century: Cimabue.
Lesson 40: Duccio di Buoninsegna.
Lesson 41: The Roman school (Jacopo Torriti and Pietro Cavallini).
Lesson 42: The revolution of Giotto. An introduction to the 14th century: guidelines of a new artistic geography.
Books
Attending students
- A.M. Romanini ad altri, L’arte medievale in Italia, Firenze 1989;
- P. De Vecchi, E. Cerchiari, Arte nel tempo. Il Medioevo, Bompiani 1991, vol. I, I tomo, parte II, capp. 4-5; vol. I, II tomo, parte III, capp. 1-4; parte IV, capp. 1-4; vol. II, I tomo, parte I, cap. 1.
Notes: Even though in the several editions of the second handbook the reference to pages may vary, the part to be studied is the one relative to the period between the 4th and the 14th century.
Since the handbook by A.M. Romanini et alii, L’arte medievale in Italia, Sansoni, Firenze 1989 is out of stock (and for the moment a reprinting is not planned), the scanning of the book is available in Classroom.
Non attending students
In addition to the above-listed contributions, Non-attending students are encouraged to read the following texts:
- F. Gandolfo, La facciata scolpita, in L’arte medievale nel contesto 300-1300. Funzioni, iconografia, tecniche, a cura di P. Piva, Milano 2006, pp. 79-97;
- H.L. Kessler, Storie sacre e spazi consacrati: la pittura narrativa nelle chiese medievali fra IV e XII secolo, ivi, pp. 435-451;
- A. Iacobini, Il mosaico in Italia dall’XI all’inizio del XIII secolo: spazio, immagini, ideologia, ivi, pp. 463- 489.
- A. Cadei, Le cattedrali all’origine del gotico, ivi, pp. 105-135;
- S. Romano, Il nuovo racconto. Assisi e la svolta della pittura narrativa, ivi, pp. 535-548.
Bibliography
None
Lessons mode
The course will be held through frontal classes supported by keynote presentations.
Besides indoor lessons, a series of guided tours focusing on some Medieval Rome monuments will be held.
Frequency
The attendance to the course is strongly recommended.
All over the academic year the professor will be available to receive students following the timetable published online on the University website. Any possible variations or suspensions of office hours will be promptly notified.
Erasmus students must contact the professor at the beginning of the course.
Exam mode
The exam will be oral and it will take place at the end of the course (intermediate tests will not be held).
The oral exam will be focused on the topics of the programme (by using pictures) in order to verify:
1) the depth and breadth of the acquired knowledge;
2) the specific vocabulary;
3) the ability to link themes and problems critically.
Students will be also evaluated considering their active participation to the lessons.
Example exam questions
Students will be asked some questions about individual works of art, monuments, or artistic movements included in the Course, with the aid of images.
Arguments
- Lessons 1-6: The idea
of Medieval art and its periodization. The origin of Christian basilicas. Early
Christian luxury arts. - Lessons 7-12: From
Late Antiquity to the Byzantine age. Rome, Milan and Ravenna from the 4th to
the 6th century. Rome in the Byzantine age and the church of S. Maria Antiqua. - Lessons 13-19: Early
Middle Ages. The Lombards in Italy.
Langobardia major and Langobardia minor. Problematic issues: Brescia,
Castelseprio, Cividale, Benevento. The Carolingian renaissance: Milan and Rome.
The Ottonian art. - Lessons 20-26: The
Romanesque style: the origin of the term and the geography of the style in
Italy (11th-12th century). Romanesque style in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna;
Wiligelm and the cathedral of Modena. The Adriatic area. - Lessons 27-32: Central
South Italy at the age of the Gregorian Reform: Rome and Montecassino abbey,
Tuscany. The Southern Kingdom in the Norman age: from Apulia to Sicily. - Lessons 33-34: Gothic
art in Europe and Italy. The role of Cistercian architecture. Mendicant Orders:
Franciscan and Dominican churches. The great Italian cathedrals. Frederick II’s
art. - Lesson 35: The renewal
of sculpture: Nicola Pisano - Lessons 36-37: Arnolfo
di Cambio - Lesson
38: Giovanni Pisano - Lesson 39: The great
Tuscan painters between the 13th and 14th century: Cimabue. - Lesson 40: Duccio di Buoninsegna.
- Lesson 41: The Roman school (Jacopo Torriti and Pietro Cavallini).
- Lesson 42: The
revolution of Giotto. An introduction to the 14th century: guidelines of a new
artistic geography.
Sustainability goals
- Academic year2026/2027
- Degree program to which the course belongsStudies in Art History
- Lesson code1024929
- Year and semester1st year - 1st semester
- Activity typeAttività formative caratterizzanti
- Academic areaDiscipline relative ai beni storico-archeologici e artistici, archivistici e librari, demoetnoantropologici e ambientali
- SSDL-ART/01
- Mandatory presenceNo
- Languageita
- CFU12 CFU
- Total duration84 hours
- Hours distribution84 classroom hours