Art History Courses

Fall 2003
317B Bartlett Hall, 545-3595

100 - Survey: Ancients to Renaissance (Schmitter)
MW lecture 11:15-12:05 & discussion

Traces the artistic tradition of Western Europe from antiquity through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, and compares it to that of selected non-western cultures (for example, the Ife and Bini in Africa, Buddhist China and Korea). The treatment of the human figure, of sacred space, and of landscape and nature; these themes facilitate cross-cultural comparisons in lecture and discussion. First half of a two-semester survey of art from prehistoric times to the present, required of majors and prerequisite to many upper-level art history courses.
Honors option available.

115 - Introduction to the Visual Arts (Denny)
MWF 10:10-11:00

Introduction to art works and to the discipline of art history, for those with no formal course experience with the history of art. Organized primarily on a topical rather than a historical basis. Variables that contribute to a work of art; rudiments of stylistic and formal analysis; the progression of style through history; patronage, cross-influences; training and evaluation of artists; criticism and economics of art; iconography and connoisseurship and artistic diversity in non-Western cultures.
For non-majors.

370 - Junior Year Writing (Art History majors only) (La Follette)
TuTh 2:30-3:45

This course is designed to assist Art History majors in preparing for professional life. Assignments stress technical facility in writing, clarity of presentation, and effective structuring of an argument. Weekly readings, short lectures, and discussions will provide the basis for assignments in various types of writing. Within the contexts of peer evaluation and debate we will consider the employment application letter, book and exhibition reviews, the scholarly articles, and creative essays.
The course is a requirement for Art History majors in their junior year.

506 - Early Medieval Art (Haney)
TUTH 11:15-12:30

Development of Christian art in Western Europe from the early Middle Ages to the beginning of the Romanesque period. Focus on the early Christian Byzantine, Hiberno-Saxon, Carolingian, and Ottonian periods and the related political, intellectual and cultural developments.
Prerequisite: ARTHIS 100 or consent of instructor.

511 - Early Renaissance Italian Art (1250-1500) (Schmitter)
MWF 2:30-3:20

Chronological survey organized by city, to provide sense of social context in which works of art were produced. How city-states developed distinctive artistic styles; how different governmental systems favored various forms of patronage. Cities include: Naples, Rome, Siena, Florence, Milan, Mantua, Ferrara, Padua, Urbino, and Venice. Central themes: revival of interest in classical antiquity, development of the mathematical system of one-point perspective.
Prerequisite: ARTHIS 100, 115 or consent of the instructor.

512 - Northern European Arts, 1400-1600 (Harbison)
TuTh 9:30-10:45

The art of Northern Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries, with most attention given to painting; some examples of architecture and sculpture included. Chronological, artist-by-artist approach with more topical issues and concerns, such as the use of visual realism, religious behavior and meaning, the Protestant Reformation, and development of artistic specialties (landscape, portrait, still-life) in the 16th century. Assignments include in-class and take-home exams and short papers.
Texts: J. Synder, Northern Renaissance Art; additional specialized reading provided.
Prerequisites: some previous college-level art history course(s); especially useful would be an introductory survey course such as ARTHIS 100, 110 or 115.
May register for Honors.

521 - European Art 1780-1880 (Keifer)
TuTh 4:00-5:15

Surveys major artists and developments from David through Impressionism; emphasis on historical context and related cultural and intellectual developments.
Prerequisites: 110, 115 or consent of instructor.

524 - American Art to 1860 (Oedel)
TuTh 11:15-12:30

Survey of painting, architecture, and sculpture in the English North American colonies and the U.S. from the 17th century to the Civil War. Emphasis on painting in the historical context.
Readings: Craven, American Art; assigned texts on reserve in the library.
Requirements: quiz, midterm and final exams, supplementary reading, and one paper of the student’s choice.
Prerequisite: ARTHIS 110 or 115.

537 - Islamic Art and Architecture II (Denny)
MWF 12:20-1:10

Continuation of ARTHIS 536. Artistic legacy of Islamic peoples from 14th through 17th centuries, including the arts of the Mamluk, Timurid, Ottoman, Safivid and Mughal dynasties in the Middle East and India.
Museum field trip.
Three papers, one midterm, one final exam.

551 - Roman Art (La Follette)
TuTh 9:30-10:45

Lecture, discussion. The artistic and cultural achievements of the Romans (portraiture; illusionistic wall painting, the development of vast interior spaces in architecture), as well as the creation of a multi-ethnic empire extending from England to Egypt. Particular attention to the dynamic of reciprocal influence between conquered and conqueror.
Quiz and two take-home essays; study guides for discussions.
No prerequisite; ARTHIS 100 or 115 or some background in Classics or Roman civilization/history helpful.

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Graduate Seminars

681 - Methods of Art History (Haney)
Th 1-3:45

Intended for M.A. Candidates in Art History, this seminar deals with major developments in the discipline of art history in the 20th century: connoisseurship, stylistic analysis, iconography, etc. There are readings in classic methodology (Berenson, Wolfflin, Panofsky) plus a number of other more recent works, many taken from the text Art History and its Methods, Ed. by Eric Fernie. Students will keep a critical journal of these readings, write a comparative analysis of two catalog entries, and a longer 20-page state of research paper in a particular field, problem, artist. The state of research paper will also be presented to the class.

692A - Winslow Homer and American Culture of the Gilded Age (Oedel)
Mon 2:30-5:15

The course is an interdisciplinary seminar that considers the paintings, watercolors, and graphic work of Winslow Homer within the framework of American culture from about 1860 to 1910. Emphasis is given to understanding the aims and achievements of Homer relative to contemporaneous artists and selected writers in the historical context. Participants will complete a midterm take-home essay, make an in-seminar presentation, and submit an article-length paper based on original research.