| COURSE
DESCRIPTION: |
| This
course examines developments in painting, sculpture
and architecture in Italy ca. 1200-1420, a period
of political and religious dynamism and extraordinary
creative activity. We will trace the evolution of
the painted altarpiece in relation to its liturgical
function, and with consideration of major artistic
personalities such as Duccio, Simone Martini, and
Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti. We will study the
great fresco cycles in churches and chapels from the
point-of-view of artist (including Giotto, Taddeo
Gaddi, Andrea Bonaiuti, and Altichiero), patron(s),
and program. We will survey key monuments of religious
and civic architecture and their painted and sculpted
decoration within the historical and political contexts
of the emerging Italian city-states. Other topics
to be explored include the role of the Mendicant orders
in the production and reception of art; the impact
of the Black Death on art; the status of the artist;
gender and class in relation to representation and
patronage; and the “eclectic” character
of Italian Gothic. |
| PREREQUISITES: |
| V43.0001,
V43.0200, or permission of the instructor. |
| REQUIRED
TEXTS: |
| Diana
Norman, ed. Siena, Florence and Padua: Art, Society
and Religion, 1280-1400. New Haven and London:
Yale University Press, 1995. Vol. I: Interpretive
Essays. Vol. II: Case Studies. |
| Photocopied
readings on reserve in the Grey Fine Arts Library. |
| COURSE
REQUIREMENTS: |
| Short
paper: |
| A
ca. 2-3-page typed, double spaced formal and iconographic
analysis of a work in the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, due Monday, October 13th, at the beginning
of class. |
| Midterm
exam: |
| Wednesday, October 22nd, full class
period. |
| Long
paper: |
| A
ca. 10-page double-spaced, typed paper in which you
assume the identity of a patron living in one of the
Italian city-states during the fourteenth century,
and commission either a painted altarpiece or a decorated
chapel, due Monday, December 3rd, at the beginning
of class. |
| Final
exam: |
| Monday,
December 15th, 2:00-3:50 PM |
| NATURE
OF THE REQUIREMENTS: |
| Readings
and lectures: |
| Readings
complement and supplement the class lectures. Students
should do the reading assigned for each class meeting
before coming to the lecture in order to gain a
familiarity with the works and issues to be discussed.
Lectures may cover works not included in the readings.
It is the student’s responsibility to be sure
that he/she receives any photocopy handouts or other
materials distributed in class. If a student misses
a lecture, he/she should arrange to photocopy a
classmate’s lecture notes. Students may not
“borrow” the professor’s lecture
notes. |
| Images/Slides: |
| Many
of the works we will be studying in class are
reproduced in your course texts. The slides associated
with each lecture will be placed on reserve in
the Grey Fine Arts Library. In addition, there
is a website containing up to ten images (per
lecture) of works discussed in class that are
not reproduced in your textbooks. The address
of the website is: http://www.nyu.edu/classes/finearts/smith/giotto.
Details concerning the website will be given in
class. |
| Exams: |
| The
midterm and final exams will consist of both shorter
slide identification questions, and two-slide identification
or comparison questions requiring longer essays.
For both types of question, you are expected to
provide the name(s) of the artist(s) (if known),
the title of the work, the date, the medium, and
the location of the work (or for which the work
was made). Your answer should address the main features
of style, iconography, patronage, and religious,
social, and political context, as relevant. You
will receive an exam study guide one week before
each exam. You may bring one (1) 8" x 10"
sheet of paper with notes (on either side) to the
exams. |
| Make-up
policy for midterm exam: |
| Make-ups
for the midterm will be given only in cases of proven,
documented medical or personal emergencies. You
must contact me either before the exam, or within
48 hours of the missed exam, to schedule a make-up.
Failure to do so will result in a grade of “F”
for the exam. |
| Make-up
policy for final exam: |
| Make-ups for the final exam will
not be given during the
regular exam period. The rules above regarding documentation
of emergencies apply. |
| Papers: |
| Detailed
instructions concerning both papers will be given
in class. Papers should be typed (12-point font),
double-spaced, paginated, have standard (one-inch)
margins, and be stapled in the upper left corner.
Papers should be proof-read for spelling and grammar
before being handed in. |
| Late
papers: |
| Late
papers submitted without a written note from a doctor
or guardian will be subject to a grade penalty. |
| Proper
citation/ Plagiarism: |
| References
to ideas or information from books, class notes,
museum wall labels, audio tours, or websites or
other sources should be properly documented with
footnotes or endnotes, and direct quotations from
any source should be enclosed in quotation marks
as well. Not to do so, as you already know, is to
commit plagiarism. Included in the syllabus are
guidelines concerning plagiarism and proper use
and citation of information in term papers. Any
student who is found to have committed plagiarism
will receive an “F” on their paper,
and there will be no opportunity to rewrite it.
Furthermore, a plagiarized paper may be referred
to the university disciplinary committee. |
**All
components of the course requirements must be
completed in order to pass the course.
**Failure of two or more components of the course
requirements will result in failure of the course
in its entirety. |
| Other: |
| No
food or drink in the classroom, except water. Keep
all cellphones and pagers turned off. Students may
not tape-record lectures. Please arrive promptly.
If you must leave class early or arrive late, please
do so with as little disruption as possible. |
| Museum
location, directions, hours (for the short paper): |
Metropolitan
Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd-84th Street
Take the 4, 5, or 6 subway to 86th Street and Lexington
Avenue, or the 6 train to 77th Street and Lexington
Avenue.
There is a “suggested” admission of $5.00
for students, but you may pay what you wish.
Hours: Friday-Saturday 9:30AM - 9:00PM
Sunday 9:30AM - 5:30 PM
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday-Thursday 9:30AM - 5:30 PM |
