Studies in Art History

History of Byzantine Art (4th to 15th century): An introduction The course is devoted to the scholarly investigation of the material relics of the Byzantine millennium from late antiquity and the Early Byzantine civilisation up to the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 AD. Classes will provide students with an overall knowledge of the Eastern Roman empire and its history. This wide chronological span will be dealt with by adopting the conventional sub-periodisation: 1. Early Byzantine period (4th to 7th century); 2. Middle Byzantine period (8th to 12th century); 3. Late Byzantine period (13th to 15th century). Byzantine art, archeology and culture will be explored, with an emphasis on the capital city, Constantinople, and the other major centres. Cross-cultural interactions between Byzantium and its neighbours will be considered as well. A particular focus mainly on the following subjects: a. Architecture b. Sculptural decoration c. Paintings d. Illuminated manuscripts e. Objets d'art

Regular attendance to the course does not depends upon the attainment of preparatory credits or exams.

1. Introduzione all’arte bizantina (IV-XV secolo): lecture notes edited by C. Barsanti, M. della Valle, R. Flaminio, A. Guiglia, A. Iacobini, A. Paribeni, S. Pasi, S. Pedone, A. Taddei, Roma 2012 + CD with colour plates (to be purchased from Centro Stampa Chioschi Gialli, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Città Universitaria, phone number 06-89873441 or 06-90209041 - e-mail: centrostampa@nuovacultura.it).. 2. Andrea Paribeni (ed.), Architettura bizantina, Milano: Electa, 2009 (to be purchased at Centro Stampa Chioschi Gialli, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Città Universitaria, phone number 06-89873441 or 06-90209041 - e-mail: centrostampa@nuovacultura.it). Students who do not attend classes regularly (less than 55%-addendance) are kindly requested to proceed to further readings. They may choose one among the following texts: 1. Enrico Zanini, Introduzione all’archeologia bizantina, Roma: Carocci, 1994. 2. Leslie Brubaker, L'invenzione dell'iconoclasmo bizantino (translated by M. C. Carile), Roma: Viella, 2016 (English edition: Inventing Byzantine Iconoclasm, London: Bristol Classical Press, 2012.

The course will be based upon class attendance.

Class attendance is highly recommended. Students who cannot assure their attendance to the 55% of classes will be considered as "non-attendant students".

The final (oral) exam is based on assigned readings in textbooks and in lecture notes. The course does not imply any sort of midterm test. In order to pass the exam, a final grade corresponding to 18 points out of 30 is needed. Students are expected to be acquainted with the basic notions of the subject and, more precisely, they should demonstrate to have attained a proper knowledge of the development of Byzantine art through the centuries together with the relevant geo-political, historical and cultural frame. To pass the exam with full marks - 30 points out of 30 cum laude - students must show a high proficiency in all the learning outcomes and a full understanding of the issues that were dealt with during classes. They are requested to be able to work out in a logical and coherent way the data and information they have acquired.

The course will be based upon class attendance.