HA2A9-15 The Italian City States in the Age of Dante & Petrarch
Introductory description
The module focuses on the rich visual culture of the Italian towns in their most successful period of economic growth and social change, c.1215-c.1400.
Module aims
The module analyses and compares the civic identities that were crafted by four Italian communes: Siena, Florence, Padua and Venice. It also addresses the importance of religious renewal, above all the impact of the mendicant orders, for the religious art and devotional ritual of the Italian communes. It will encourage students to place the visual arts of this period in relation to political thought, social history and contemporary literature (for example Dante’s Divine Comedy and Petrarch).
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.
Historical overview of medieval Italy
Miracle-working panel paintings in Florence and Siena
Two Madonnas in Majesty in Siena
Peace, War, Tyranny, Justice: Ambrogio Lorenzetti's frescoes
Painting for Bankers & Merchants
Giotto's commissions for the Bardi and Scrovegni families (Florence and Padua)
Dante's Comedy and Its Influence on Artistic Production
The Age of Pandemics. Disasters' Effects on Artistic Production
Padua under the Carrara: Urban growth and humanism
The Italian City-States and the World
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge and understanding of the function of painting, sculpture and architecture in late medieval Italian cities.
- Compare the different civic identities of a selection of Italian urban centres as articulated in art and architecture .
- Discuss the impact of religious change and renewal on the use and reception of images.
- Apply visual analysis skills to assess buildings and imagery of Italian medieval cities.
Indicative reading list
Generic Reading lists can be found in Talis
Specific reading list for the module can be found on
Subject specific skills
- broad knowledge of painting, sculpture and architecture in late medieval Italy
- knowledge of different civic identities as articulated in art and architecture
- knowledge of the impact of religious change and renewal on the use and reception of images
- sophisticated visual analysis
- critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context
Transferable skills
- 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
- bibliographical skills at an appropriate level
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 10 sessions of 2 hours (13%) |
| External visits | 1 session of 2 hours (1%) |
| Private study | 128 hours (85%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Required and recommended reading for seminar presentation, research for written assessments and revision for examinations.
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 D
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Assessed Essay | 50% | No | |
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2000 word essay |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Engagement | 10% | No | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Centrally-timetabled examination (Online) | 40% | No | |
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~Platforms - WAS
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Written feedback and dedicated feedback tutorials.
Pre-requisites
n/a
Courses
This module is Optional for:
- Year 2 of UHAA-V3R3 Undergraduate History of Art with Italian
This module is Option list B for:
- Year 2 of UHAA-V401 Undergraduate History of Art
This module is Option list C for:
- Year 2 of UHAA-V3R3 Undergraduate History of Art with Italian