Instructor: Dr. Deborah Cibelli, PhD. Course: History of Renaissance Art. Contact Hours: 30 + Field studies

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1 HISTORY OF RENAISSANCE ART SUMMER Instructor: Dr. Deborah Cibelli, PhD Course: History of Renaissance Art Contact Hours: 30 + Field studies Class location: Studio II, Accademia dell Arte Loc. San Fabiano Arezzo Summer and year Detail Tomb of Guido Tarlati Office hours by appointment Phone Number: Accademia Office address: Deborah.Cibelli@nicholls.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course covers the visual arts and architecture of different artistic centers of Italy from with a detailed study of the cathedral, churches, palaces, paintings, ceramics, and sculptures of Arezzo. Illustrated lectures, readings, and assignments with visits to the historic monuments and museums of Arezzo and to other regional centers. As residents of Arezzo, in eastern Tuscany, students will learn of its importance for the Etruscans and Romans, visiting the Roman amphitheater and archeological museum with its impressive collection of ancient art. They will be able to study monuments from the late medieval period when the city was under ecclesiastical rule, from the early Renaissance when Arezzo became a commune, and from the High Renaissance when the region came under control of Cosimo I Duke of Florence (who later became Grand Duke of Tuscany). The monuments available for study include late medieval churches such as Santa Maria della Pieve, built in the Romanesque style and the Cathedral, one of the finest examples of Tuscan Gothic from the 13 th century. Other structures in Arezzo show the adaptation of classical forms by architects working during the Renaissance period. Many of the churches, palaces, and museums feature sculptures, paintings, and ceramics by artists active in Arezzo such as Piero della Francesca who painted the fresco of The Legend of the True Cross in San Francesco during the 1450s and Giorgio Vasari who was born in Arezzo and wrote the Lives of the most excellent painters, sculptors, and architects, one of the most influential narrative histories of Renaissance art that was first published in During the five-week course of study, students will visit sites in Arezzo and will travel to Florence to visit historical sites and important religious structures such as the Duomo, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Orphanage or Ospedale degli Innocenti by Brunelleschi, and Santa Maria Novella by Alberti. REQUIRED TEXTS:

2 On Reserve: John T. Paoletti and Gary M. Radke, Art in Renaissance Italy. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson/Prentice Hall, ISBN (pbk). Required: Giorgio Vasari, The Lives of the Artists. Translated with an Introduction and Notes by Julia Conway Bondanella and Peter Bondanella. Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN X. STUDENT OUTCOME OBJECTIVES: Having completed this course, the student should be able to 1. understand the history of the art forms or describe the historical, political, or social context out of which the work arose 2. recognize the techniques or forms used in architecture, painting, ceramics, and sculpture 3. articulate the aesthetic values of the historical period under study 4. use technology to access resources 5. identify works of art and monuments 6. assess the major characteristics of the art 7. analyze art in terms of its social and historical context 8. identify and evaluate the influence of artistic achievement in society and in their personal lives COURSE CONTENT: This course covers material from the Renaissance period in Europe, with special emphasis on Arezzo. The course will introduce key concepts, methods, and terminology used in art history. The survey of Renaissance art will consider some of the religious, economic, and political issues important to the period. Workshop traditions and artistic training, as well as patronage will also be explored. By the end of the term students should be able to use analytical tools to identify major monuments; discern major lines of development; discuss artistic methods used to create art; and analyze the art in terms of its historical and social context. Assignments for the course include a mid-term, a term paper, and a final examination. Students are responsible for lecture material and weekly reading assignments. Students are encouraged to ask questions for clarification and for purposes of general discussion. The best way to prepare for examinations is to attend class and to take notes from the lectures, site visits, and the required readings. Completion of the assignments each week will also prepare students for the examinations. Many of the monuments discussed in class are not represented in the textbook and lecture material will not always be covered in the text making regular attendance very important. COURSE CONTENT / COURSE REQUIREMENTS Class 1: Introduction to course; Etruscan and Roman Foundations & Introduction to Casentino Readings for unit from Vasari, pages, 3-6; Life of Michelangelo born in Casentino, pages ; Paoletti and Radke: Introduction; Art in Context, pages 12-45; and The Origins of the Renaissance, pages Recommended: Emeline Hill Richardson, The Etruscan Origins of Roman Sculpture, Memoirs of the Academy in Rome, 21 (1953): Class 2: Field Study Recommended: Colin Hardie, Dante s Canzone Montanina, The Modern Language Review 55, 3 (July 1960): ; Giovanna Benadusi, Rethinking the State: Family Strategies in Early Modern Tuscany, Social History 20, 2 (May 1995):

3 Class 3: Field Study: The Archaeological Museum - Museo Archeologico Nazionale Gaio. Cilnio Mecenate (G.C. Mecante National Archaeological Museum), ex-convento di S. Bernardo, Via Margaritone 10, Open Daily: 8:30-19:30 Class 4: Romanesque Architecture; Civic and Liturgical Art of Siena; & Sienese Artists in 13 th -14 th Century Arezzo, Santa Maria della Pieve, the Cattedrale dei Pietro e Donato (Il Duomo), and San Domenico: Gothic Architecture, Trecento Sculpture, and Early Renaissance Art Readings for unit from Vasari 7-14, 43-44; from Paoletti and Radke: Florence, Siena, and Arezzo, and Civic Art and Private Patronage, pages ; see Tarlati Tomb, c , commissioned by Tarlati s brother Pietro Saccone, from Agnolo di Ventura and Giovanni d Agostino for Arezzo Cathedral, page 112 Class 5: Field Study: Santa Maria della Pieve, San Domenico, & Il Duomo - Civic and Liturgical Art in Arezzo Reading from Vasari Class 6: Field Study Recommended: Daniel Bornstein, The Uses of the Body: The Church and the Cult of Santa Margherita de Cortona, Church History 62, 2 (Jun. 1993): ; Machtelt Israëls, Sassetta, Fra Angelico and Their Patrons at S. Domenico, Cortona, The Burlington Magazine 145, 1208 (Nov. 2003): ; Laurence Kanter and David Franklin, Some Passion Scenes by Luca Signorelli after 1500, Mitteilungen des Kunsthistorischen Institutes in Florenz 35, 2/3 (1991): ; Joshua C. Taylor, Gino Severini: A Self Portrait, Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies 2 (1967): Class 7: EXAM & Aretine Art at Mid-Century; Piero della Francesca in Arezzo Readings for unit from Vasari ; Paoletti and Radke: Piero della Francesca in Arezzo, Class 8: Field Study: San Francesco, Arezzo and the frescoes of Piero della Francesca Class 9: Renaissance Architecture & Introduction to Rome Reading from Vasari ; ; ; Classes 10-11: Field Study: Rome Class 12: Casa Vasari & Maniera Readings for unit from Vasari ; Paoletti and Radke: High Renaissance, , Maniera, pages , , and ; and for their comments on Vasari, see pages , , and Class 13 (Tuesday, August 10, 9:00-12:30): EXAM & Field Study Fraternita dei Laici (Palace of Lay Fraternity), Palazzo Pretorio, Santa Maria in Gradi, Badia di SS. Flora e Lucilla, Santa Maria delle Grazie, etc. & Casa Vasari and (Vasari Loggia, Piazza Grande) and Museo Statale d Arte Medievale e Moderna, Arezzo, via San Lorentino, 8 Class 14: Table Discussion of PAPERS; Papers due Class 15: Field Study METHODS OF EVALUATION: 3

4 The course assignments include a mid-term, a writing assignment that will be the basis for a brief oral presentation, and a final exam. Assignments for the course will be graded in terms of the quality and precision of observations and the organization and form of written answers. Points will be deducted for absences, tardiness, and for late assignments. Each assignment will receive the following weight Attendance Two or more unexcused absences can result in lower letter grade Mid-term 30% Paper and Oral Presentation 30% Final Exam 40% GRADING SCALE: A -- exceptional work; an average of about 90% B -- very good work; an average of about 80% C -- average work; a score of about 65% D -- some knowledge of material; an average of about 60% F -- poor grasp of essentials; an average below 60% MAKE-UP PROCEDURE: Students missing an examination must provide some documentation to justify the absence. Upon verification that the absence was legitimate, a make-up exam will be scheduled. The student must contact the instructor to confirm the time of the make-up exam. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY OR PLAGIARISM: Academic dishonesty or plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. Students involved in these activities will be given an F for the course. ATTENDANCE POLICY: A student shall submit excuses for all class absences immediately upon returning to class. Students will receive a lower letter grade for two or more absences. Given the importance of lecture material, regular attendance will be needed to pass the course. AMERICANS WITH DISABILTIES ACT: If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, please note that you will need to inform the faculty. CELL PHONES AND AUDIO PLAYERS should be turned off during the class period. GUIDE TO EXAMINATIONS: The examinations will include slide identifications, multiple choice questions, vocabulary questions, and essay questions. PAPER ASSIGNMENT: The papers for the course should be two typed and double-spaced pages of 700 words plus the bibliography. Students may extend their work, but quality, not length is important. Points will be deducted from late papers. Term Paper Topic: 4

5 Select an article for analysis that refers to a work that can be studied in Arezzo or in the surrounding area and conduct some research, referring to other articles recommended for study that are listed in the bibliography for the course. The required paper is a test of your ability to analyze the art and the scholarly essay. Develop a two page paper of 700 words of text with additional notes that reviews the main points of the article and raises issues for discussion that stem from course lectures, site visits, and class discussion. The review is an opportunity to highlight key points from the article and to include your observations on the history of Renaissance art and the art of Arezzo. It should identify the author of the article, the title of the article and the journal source. Include a heading for the paper that includes your name, the title of your paper (referring to the article to be reviewed), the class name, Art History Course, and term, Summer Example: John Smith Umberto Eco on Aesthetics Art History Course Summer 2011 Include statements that outline major points developed in the article. What is the author s main thesis? How does s/he develop their argument? What points are made to support their statements? Analyze this material noting strengths and weaknesses. Consider whether this material enhances your understanding of the art of the Renaissance and art of Arezzo. The material should show that you read the article carefully and interpreted the information. Use at least point font and include margins that are about 1 inch all around. When referring to illustrations and include a brief title that identifies the work of art. It is customary to include the name of the artist, the title of the object, and the date. Sometimes it is helpful to note the media and dimensions of the object. Include some citations: may use notes such as (Smith 33) at the end of a sentence to show page numbers for specific material. It is important to include notes for all quoted material. However, in a two-page paper, it is important to limit the use of quotations. Please send a copy of the completed paper to the instructor s address (Deborah.Cibelli@nicholls.edu) when the term paper assignment is due. The file can be added as an attachment to the message. Please note that you will receive a message confirming that the material has been received. Students may also send an outline for the paper if they develop an outline for the class presentation. The paper should answer these general questions. 1. What is the author s thesis and how is the thesis developed in the essay? 2. What points are made regarding the style or the formal attributes of the work of art? 3. What information is given regarding the subject matter? 4. How does the author treat the social context? 5. What evidence supports the major ideas and conclusions presented in the article? 6. Are there strengths and weaknesses to the approach and the scholarship? 7. What are the implications of the findings? What use might be made of this knowledge? 5

6 Cite the sources in your paper using The Chicago Manual of Style or the MLA Style. Discuss the topic in your paper and prepare the findings for class presentation. An example of an endnote for a journal using the Chicago Style: 1 Author(s), Title of article, Name of Journal Vol. # (Date of Publication): page number(s). Example: 1 Anne H. Van Buren, Madame Cezanne s Fashions and Dates of Her Portraits, Art Quarterly 29 (1966), 119. A sample bibliographic entry is as follows: Author(s). Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, date of publication. Example: Caviness, Madeline Harrison. The Early Stained Glass of Canterbury Cathedral. Princeton: Princeton University Press, The basic bibliographic format for WWW sources is from Xia Li and Nancy B. Crane, Electronic Style: A Guide to Citing Electronic Information (Meckler, 1993). DeAngelis, T. (1995). A nation of hermits: The loss of community. APA Monitor. [Online]. Available: isoltatea.html. The MLA has provisions for in-text citations using parentheses. Include the name of the author and the page number in parentheses (Frye 24) within the body of the paper. It is necessary to provide a complete listing of the source in a section titled, Works Cited, with an entry such as: Frye, Northrop. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton: Princeton UP, Evaluation Rubrics for the Term Paper Name of student: Title: Comments/critique of 5 critical categories: Statement of article contents & Quality of Research Poor Average Good High (0-20) Analysis of material (0-20) Content /Relevant details (0-20) Writing Mechanics (0-20) Accuracy of Information/ Citations, if applicable (you may use notes such as (Smith 33) to show page numbers for specific material. (0-20) Scale: Total Points Possible = 100 6