Art History

ELISA COLETTA

This advanced Course on art criticism is aimed at improving the students' critical tools for interpreting the diverse modes of producing, seeing, and describing a visual representation. It provides the necessary tools in order to gain a deep knowledge of specific themes in an original and critical way. It also serves as an introductory course for the production of original work in the field, with specific reference to the dissertation.

Knowledge of Vincian historiography from the 15th century to the 1990s;
Knowledge of Lionello Venturi's writings and editorial projects dedicated to Leonardo;
Knowledge of the fundamental passages of Lionello Venturi's theoretical thought and historical-artistic reflections;
Knowledge of the Lionello Venturi archive at the SARAS department.

Basic knowledge of the history of art criticism

Lionello and Leonardo. Leonardo da Vinci in the critical studies of Lionello Venturi

The course analyses the critical journey taken by Lionello Venturi between the 1910s and 1950s. Leading the analysis is research conducted by the scholar into Leonardo da Vinci’s artistic and theoretical production between 1919 and 1952. Examining studies dedicated to the Florentine artist, we will uncover the theoretical reference points of the scholar, debates the latter held with theorists and philosophers of the time, as well as a reflection that led him to the theorisation of the critical history of art. The analysis of Venturi’s studies into da Vinci will feature in and be corroborated by a description of the fundamental texts of da Vinci’s historiography between the end of the nineteenth century and the middle of the twentieth century.

Lectures will be accompanied by guided discussions and a visit to the Venturi archive.

Attendance is strongly recommended.

Oral exam

Describe the characteristics of the relationship between art and science in Leonardo in Venturi's 1919 monograph.

Describe the subject and objectives of “Il gusto dei primitivi” (The Taste of the Primitives).

Specify the relationship between the history of art criticism and critical art history as theorized by Lionello Venturi.

Specify Lionello Venturi's position on Purovisibilità (Pure Visibility).