Studies in Art History

ANTONIO IACOBINI

The main objective of the course is to provide a basic knowledge of Byzantine Art History.
As regards specific objectives, 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.
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 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.

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.

Taking the exam of Medieval Art History is necessary before attending the course.

Introduction to Byzantine Art History (4th-15th century)

This module aims to provide some basic knowledge about Byzantine Art History, from the foundation of Constantinople to the fall of the Empire (330-1453 AD). Lessons will be focused on trends, artists, works and buildings, whose relations to the Mediterranean creative and social context will be particularly investigated.

Notes
The course is reserved to whose surnames’ initial letters are between A and L.

Course Articulation:

Lessons 1-6: Constitutive characters of Byzantium history and artistic civilization. The Early Byzantine age, from the foundation of Constantinople to the end of the Theodosian dynasty (4th-5th century): urban planning and monuments of the capital; architectures, sculptures and mosaics in Thessalonica; Byzantine Syria.

Lessons 7-12: From Justinian to the end of Iconoclasm (6th-9th century): imperial patronage in the 6th century; Hagia Sophia of Anthemius and Isidorus; luxury arts; the Sinai monastery and the oldest Christian icons; the fight for holy images and the church of the Dormition in Nicaea.

Lessons 13-21: The Middle and Late Byzantine age (9th-15th century): the renovatio of arts in the Macedonian age; new architectural typologies; illuminations, ivories, enamels and jewelry; Cappadocia and Armenia in Middle Byzantine Age; monasteries and cathedrals in the 11th century, from Greece to Rus’; Constantinople, Macedonia and Cyprus in the Comnenian age; the Fourth Crusade and the Latin Empire age; the Empire of Trebisonda, the Despotate of Epirus and the Kingdom of Serbia; the Palaiologan age, from the reconquest of Constantinople to its fall.

Attending students

- Andrea Paribeni (a cura di), Architettura bizantina, Electa, Milano 2009;
- Introduzione all’arte bizantina (IV-XV secolo), dispense a cura di C. Barsanti, M. della Valle, R. Flaminio, A. Guiglia, A. Iacobini, A. Paribeni, S. Pasi, S. Pedone, A. Taddei.

Notes: the pdf of the texts will be made available on Classroom.

Non-attending students

In addition to the above-listed contributions, Non-attending students are encouraged to read one extra text selected among the following ones:

- Enrico Zanini, Introduzione all’archeologia bizantina, Carocci, Roma 1994.
- Ernst Kitzinger, Alle origini dell’arte bizantina. Correnti stilistiche nel mondo mediterraneo dal III al VII secolo, a cura di M. Andaloro e P. Cesaretti, Jaca Book, Milano 2005.
- Enrico Zanini, Costantinopoli, Carocci, Roma 2022.
- Fernanda de’ Maffei, Bisanzio e l’ideologia delle immagini, a cura di C. Barsanti, A. Guiglia, A. Iacobini, A. Paribeni, M. della Valle, Liguori Editore, Napoli 2011, pp. 55-84; 107-117; 229-301; 349-371.
- Antonio Iacobini, Visioni dipinte. Immagini della contemplazione negli affreschi di Bawit, Viella, Roma 2000.
- Livia Bevilacqua, Arte e aristocrazia a Bisanzio nell'età dei Macedoni. Costantinopoli, la Grecia e l'Asia Minore, Campisano Editore, Roma 2013.
- Simona Moretti, Roma bizantina. Opere d'arte dall'impero di Costantinopoli nelle collezioni romane, Campisano Editore, Roma 2014.
- Giovanni Gasbarri, Riscoprire Bisanzio. Lo studio dell'arte bizantina a Roma e in Italia tra Ottocento e Novecento, Viella, Roma 2015.

None

The course will be held through frontal classes supported by keynote presentations.

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.

Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.

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.

Students will be asked questions about individual works of art, monuments, or artistic movements included in the course, with the aid of images.

• Lessons 1-6: Constitutive characters of Byzantium history and artistic
  civilization. The Early Byzantine age, from the foundation of Constantinople to
  the end of the Theodosian dynasty (4th-5th century): urban planning and
  monuments of the capital; architectures, sculptures and mosaics in
  Thessalonica; Byzantine Syria.
  • Books: See Texts


• Lessons 7-12: From Justinian to the end of Iconoclasm (6th-9th century):
  imperial patronage in the 6th century; Hagia Sophia of Anthemius and Isidorus;
  luxury arts; the Sinai monastery and the oldest Christian icons; the fight for
  holy images and the church of the Dormition in Nicaea.
  • Books: See Texts


• Lessons 13-21: The Middle and Late Byzantine age (9th-15th century): the
  renovatio of arts in the Macedonian age; new architectural typologies;
  illuminations, ivories, enamels and jewelry; Cappadocia and Armenia in Middle
  Byzantine Age; monasteries and cathedrals in the 11th century, from Greece to
  Rus’; Constantinople, Macedonia and Cyprus in the Comnenian age; the Fourth
  Crusade and the Latin Empire age; the Empire of Trebisonda, the Despotate of
  Epirus and the Kingdom of Serbia; the Palaiologan age, from the reconquest of
  Constantinople to its fall.
  • Books: See Texts