Introductory description

This module examines the art and architecture of Venice in the light of its unique physical, political and cultural situation. The city's links with the Byzantine empire, its status as a maritime republic and its distinctive political situation fostered a culture different from those of other Italian cities and which can be studied as a discrete entity. The relationship between art and its various contexts will be surveyed using the physical evidence of the city and its past. The influence of Venice on art in the terraferma will also be examined through, for example, study trips.

Module aims

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: The 'Birth' and 'Myths' of Venice
The Byzantine Connection
Painting and sculpture in 14th-centuryVenice & Padua
Medieval and Renaissance architecture
Narrative Painting and the Venetian Scuole
Travel and independent study of monuments
The Venetian altarpiece
Sacred and Profane Painting and Sculpture

Learning outcomes

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

• Demonstrate an understanding of developments in Venetian art and architecture from 1100 to 1600.
• Analyse works of art with respect to the cultural and physical context.
• Gain confidence by speaking in front of works of art
• Present an argument, initiate and sustain group discussion through intelligent questioning and debate at an appropriate level
• 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
• Show understanding of diverse viewpoints
• Ability to find, select, organize and synthesize evidence
• Ability to formulate a sustained argument
• Think conceptually and independently at an appropriate level
• Employ sophisticated conceptual and visual analysis
• Demonstrate bibliographical skills at an appropriate level
• Produce critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context

Indicative reading list

Joanne M. Ferraro, Venice: History of the Floating City (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012)
Patricia Fortini Brown, Venice & antiquity : the Venetian sense of the past (Yale: Yale University Press, 1996)
James H. McGregor, Venice from the Ground Up (Harvard: Harvard University Press, 2009)
Tom Nichols, Renaissance Art in Venice: from Tradition to Individualism (London: Laurence King, 2016)
Venice reconsidered: the history and civilization of an Italian city-state, 1297-1797, eds J. Martin & D. Romano (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 2000)

View reading list on Talis Aspire

International

This module is taught in Venice through class-based learning, site visits and trips.

Subject specific skills

• Demonstrate an understanding of developments in Venetian art and architecture from 1100 to 1600.
• Analyse works of art with respect to the cultural and physical context.
• Gain confidence by speaking in front of works of art
• Employ sophisticated conceptual and visual analysis
• Produce critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context

Transferable skills

• present an argument, initiate and sustain group discussion through intelligent questioning and debate at an appropriate level
• 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
• show understanding of diverse viewpoints
• ability to find, select, organize and synthesize evidence
• ability to formulate a sustained argument
• think conceptually and independently at an appropriate level
• Demonstrate bibliographical skills at an appropriate level