Studies in Art History

ROBERTA CERONE

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.

The main objective of the teaching is to provide the basic knowledge of medieval art history.
Specific objectives: to provide students with the ability to understand medieval works of art from a historical, stylistic, iconographic and technical point of view; to describe them with appropriate vocabulary; to develop critical judgment autonomy.
To this end, during the lessons the active participation of students in the analysis of works and monuments will be requested, in particular during the guided tours.

No prerequisites required.

The course is reserved to students whose surnames’ initial letters are between Q and Z!!!

Art in Italy from the 4th to the 14th century

This module aims to provide basic knowledge of mediaeval art history, from the early Christian age to the end of the 14th century. During the course, general problems of method and periodization will be analyzed, as well as the main contexts and the most representative works created in Italy, but always looking at the broader European context. Frontal lessons will be complemented by visits to the main medieval monuments in Rome.


Course Articulation:

30 hours: The concept of medieval art, methodology and periodization; the birth of Christian art; from Late Antiquity to the Byzantine era; the Early Middle Ages. Visits to: Mausoleo di Costanza and Museo dell’Alto Medioevo
24 hours: The Romanesque style: the origin of the term and the geography of the style in Italy (11th-12th century).
Visits to San Clemente and SS. Quattro Coronati
30 hours: Gothic art in Europe and Italy: architecture, sculpture, paintings up to the 14th century; an introduction to the 14th century: guidelines for a new artistic geography.
Visits to S. Cecilia in Trastevere.

Attending students

- A.M. Romanini ad altri, L’arte medievale in Italia, Firenze 1989.
Since the book by A.M. Romanini et alii, L’arte medievale in Italia, Firenze 1989 is out of print (and for the moment a reprinting is not planned), the scanning of the book is available on the course’s Classroom page.
- P. De Vecchi, E. Cerchiari, Arte nel tempo. Bompiani 1991 (ristampato nel 2020 da Sansoni per la scuola/Mondadori); vol. I, I tomo, parte II, capp. 4-5; vol. I, II tomo (Il Medioevo).
Notes: Even if in the various editions of De Vecchi, Cerchiari the reference to the pages may be different, the part to be studied is the period between the 4th and the 14th century included.

Not mandatory

The exam is oral and takes place at the end of the course (intermediate tests will not be held).
The test consists of an interview on the topics of the program (with the aid of images) in order to verify:

1) the depth and breadth of the knowledge acquired;
2) the property of language;
3) the ability to critically link themes and problems.

The evaluation will also take into account the active participation of students in the classroom work.