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HA1A2-30 Introduction to Art History: Classicism and the Arts of Christianity

Department
SCAPVC - History of Art
Level
Undergraduate Level 1
Module leader
Giorgio Tagliaferro
Credit value
30
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

The module is formed by a series of lectures and related seminars that address the intertwined themes of Classicism and Christianity. The module will provide a historical survey of western art concentrating on late antique, medieval and Renaissance art, periods with which our first year students are often unfamiliar. The lectures follow a broadly chronological sweep, while the related seminars will concentrate on issues of technique, terminology and iconography.

Module aims

The key aim of this module is to empower students with the ability to describe what they see – in terms of how an image or object is made, as well as its form and iconography. Students will acquire a basic grasp of the essential areas which they will need to use as reference points for other modules in the degree. It will also provide a useful introduction to the history of art for students outside the department.
Students will gain a broadly chronological foundation in the relevant factual material, and will develop core skills of visual analysis, use of specialist vocabulary and methodology, essay writing and seminar presentation essential to their progress.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Introduction: Origins and overview
Classical architecture
The Emperor and the Gods
The human form
Painting and Pompeii
Byzantium
The Christian west
The Italian city-states
The great cathedrals
Renaissance architecture (Italy)
Reading Week
Renaissance painting (Italy)
The northern Renaissance
Renaissance sculpture (Italy)
Collecting antiquity
Disegno and the grand manner
The art of the book
Reform and Counter-Reform
Vasari and art as history

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate understanding of key images and monuments and key developments in western art from antiquity to c.1600.
  • Identify and discuss the material and techniques used by artists/architects etc.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with a range of analytical tools to engage with more specialised, period- or genre-specific courses in the second year.
  • With guidance, the ability to gather, select, organise and synthesise visual and textual information.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with others.
  • Present an argument, initiate and sustain group discussion through intelligent questioning and debate.
  • Demonstrate academic skills: ability to undertake research and to write up the results in the form of a well-structured argument at an appropriate level.
  • Familiarity with essential ICT skills.
  • Demonstrate understanding of historical context and evidence.
  • Think conceptually and critically.
  • Show understanding of diverse viewpoints.
  • Ability to find, select, organize and synthesize evidence
  • Ability to formulate a sustained argument.
  • Demonstrate visual literacy.
  • Demonstrate critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context.
  • Demonstrate bibliographical and other academic skills.
Indicative reading list

David Bomford et al, Art in the Making: Italian Painting before 1400 (London: National Gallery Publications, 1989)
Robin Cormack, Byzantine Art (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000)
Michael Camille, Gothic Art: Visions and Revelations of the Medieval World (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1996)
Nicola Coldstream, Medieval Architecture (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002)
Jill Dunkerton et al, Giotto to Durer: Early Renaissance Painting in the National Gallery (New Haven and London: Yale University Press and National Gallery Publications, 1991)
Jas Elsner, Imperial Rome and Christian Triumph: The Art of the Roman Empire, AD 100-450 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998)
Craig Harbison, The Art of the Northern Renaissance (London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1995)
Thomas Matthews, The Art of Byzantium: Between Antiquity and the Renaissance (London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1998)
Lawrence Nees, Early Medieval Art (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002)
John Shearman, Mannerism (London: Penguin, 1967)
Evelyn Welch, Art in Renaissance Italy, 1350-1500 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000)

Research element

Completion of Art Historical Study Skills course run concurrently with this module

Subject specific skills
  • Demonstrate understanding of key images and monuments and key developments in western art from antiquity to c.1600.
  • Identify and discuss the material and techniques used by artists/architects etc.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with a range of analytical tools to engage with more specialised, period- or genre-specific courses in the second year.
  • Demonstrate visual literacy.
  • Demonstrate critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context.
Transferable skills
  • With guidance, the ability to gather, select, organise and synthesise visual and textual information.
  • Present an argument, initiate and sustain group discussion through intelligent questioning and debate.
  • Demonstrate academic skills: ability to undertake research and to write up the results in the form of a well-structured argument at an appropriate level.
  • Familiarity with essential ICT skills.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with others.
  • Demonstrate understanding of historical context and evidence.
  • Think conceptually and critically.
  • Show understanding of diverse viewpoints.
  • Ability to find, select, organize and synthesize evidence.
  • Ability to formulate a sustained argument.
  • Demonstrate bibliographical and other academic skills.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 18 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Seminars 10 sessions of 2 hours (7%)
Fieldwork 1 session of 2 hours (1%)
Other activity 13 hours 30 minutes (4%)
Private study 246 hours 30 minutes (82%)
Total 300 hours
Private study description

Required and recommended reading for seminar preparation, research for written assessments and revision for examinations.

Other activity description

Art Historical Study Skills

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A1
Weighting Study time
1500 word essay 35%

Assessed Essay

Study Skills Exercise 5%

Painting Review

Slide Test 20%

Image Analysis Exam

Online Written Assignment (Open Book) 40%

Summer Term Exam Assignment

Feedback on assessment

Written feedback and dedicated feedback tutorials

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 1 of UHAA-V401 Undergraduate History of Art
  • Year 1 of UHAA-V3R3 Undergraduate History of Art with Italian
  • Year 1 of UITA-R3V3 Undergraduate Taught Italian and History of Art

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 1 of UHAA-V41P Undergraduate History of Art