Art History Courses

Faculty | Master's | Courses

All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise specified.

500 Greek Art

The origins, unfolding, and flowering of Greek sculpture, architecture, and painting from approximately 900 to 100 B.C. Readings from ancient literature provide essential historical and cultural background. Particular attention paid to the powerful magic of early Greek images and to issues and controversies surrounding Greek art as it is presented to the American public. Ms. LaFollette

506 Early Medieval Art

Development of Christian art in Western Europe from early Middle Ages to beginning of Romanesque period. Focus on Early Christian Byzantine, Hiberno-Saxon, Carolingian and Ottonian periods and related political, intellectual and cultural developments. Ms. Haney

507 Romanesque and Gothic Art

Development of architecture, sculpture, painting and minor arts from 1050 to 1400 in France, England and Italy; society in which these art forms developed. Relationship of monuments to contemporary political, social, intellectual, and literary trends. Ms. Haney

511 Early Renaissance Italian Art
(1250-1500)

How city-states developed distinctive artistic styles, and how different governmental systems favored various forms of patronage. Cities include: Naples, Rome, Siena, Florence, Milan, Mantua, Ferrara, Padua, Urbino, and Venice. Focus on the revival of interest in classical antiquity and the development of the mathematical system of one-point perspective.

512 Northern European Art, 1400-1600

Topical survey of art of the renaissance in northern Europe. Jan van Eyck and symbolism, late Gothic spiritualism; Hier-onymus Bosch and the fantastic; Durer and the Reformation; rise of landscape and art of Pieter Bruegel. Focus on painting. Overall emphasis on understanding expressive value of the works of art in their cultural contexts. Mr. Harbison

513 Late Renaissance and Mannerist Italian Art

The development of the visual arts in the major artistic centers of Italy during the 16th century, including Florence, Rome, Venice, Mantua, Ferrara, Parma, and Bologna. The lives and works of specific artists, such as Leonardo, Raphael, Titian, and Michelangelo. Focus on thematic issues concerning the relationship between art and society, including: the rise in so-cial status of the artist and the conception of artistic genius; the influence of patronage and collecting; art and the creation of political identities; women as subjects, patrons, and practitioners of art; classicism and "anti-classicism" (Mannerism); art and religious reform; government and city planning.

516 Italian Baroque Art

Architecture, sculpture and painting from 1600-1750, especially in Rome; painting of the Bolognese school; spread of the Baroque style. Emphasis on Caravaggio, Annibale Carracci, Bernini, Borromini, and Pietro da Cortona.

517 Northern European Art, 1600-1700

Survey of 17th-century painting outside Italy. Focus on Velazquez, Poussin, Rub-ens, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Emphasis on understanding meaning and function of the art in its historical and cultural contexts. Mr. Harbison

521 European Art, 1780-1880

Major artists and developments from David through Impressionism. Emphasis on historical context and related cultural and intellectual developments. Prerequisites: ArtHis 110, 115 or consent of instructor.

522 Modern Art, 1880 to Present

Focus on movements from Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Expressionism, Cubism, Dada, Surrealism, to post-World War II and contemporary directions from Abstract Expressionism to Post-Modernism. Prerequisites: ArtHis 110, 115 or consent of instructor. Ms. Mochon

524 American Art to 1860

Survey of American art and architecture to 1860. Emphasis on major painters within the cultural and historical contexts. Mr. Oedel

525 American Art 1860 to 1940

Survey of American art and architecture from 1860 to 1940. Emphasis on major painters within the cultural and historical contexts. Mr. Oedel

527 History of Decorative Arts

The history of the decorative arts from the Renaissance to 1960. Various media examined, with an emphasis on furniture. Ms. Haney

531 19th-Century Architecture

Architecture as art, proper architectural terms, architecture as tool of society. Flow of architectural style from 1750 to 1900 in Europe and America; attempts to account for frequent changes in style, beginning with Romanticism, continuing through variety of tastes of the mid-century, concluding with rise of the skyscraper and early Frank Lloyd Wright. Architecture as humanistic study; basic for architects, regional planning, landscape and town planning, and preservation.

532 20th-Century Architecture

Recognition and explanation of stylistic trends of our era, beginning with Frank Lloyd Wright and other 20th century innovators, ending with contemporary developments. Changing theories of modern architecture and their historical sources; views of modern architects through reading and critiquing. Preparation for careers in architecture, environmental design, interior decoration and art history.

533 Architecture Now

Seminar. For architects, interior designers, and environmentalists. Discussion, reading and prepared reports on immediate problems of architects, clients and the public with regard to characteristics of architecture today. How we have arrived; where we may go. ArtHis 531 and 532 advantageous.

536 History of Islamic Art and Architecture I

Chronological study of history of Islamic art from its origins in Byzantine and Sasanian traditions of Near East, to its formation under Arab Empire and subsequent Turkish and Iranian dynastic patrons. Islamic world from Spain to India, with emphasis on the central Islamic lands of Middle East. Architecture, painting, textiles, carving in wood, crystal, stucco, stone, and ivory, metalware, ceramics, other media. Museum field trip. Given al-ternate years with ArtHis 537. Mr. Denny

537 History of Islamic Art and Architecture II

Continuation of ArtHis 536. Artistic legacy of Islamic peoples from 14th through 17th centuries, including the arts of the Mamluk, Timurid, Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal dynasties in the Middle East and India. Museum field trip. Given alternate years with ArtHis 536. Mr. Denny

551 Roman Art

The artistic and cultural achievements of the Romansportraiture, illusionistic wall painting, and the development of vast interior spaces in architectureas well as the creation of a multi-ethnic empire extending from England to Egypt. Particular attention paid to the dynamic of reciprocal influence between conquered and conqueror. Ms. LaFollette

556 Medieval Painting

The history of the illustrated book from early Christian period through the high middle ages. Problems in materials and technique; stylistic and iconographic questions. Ms. Haney

563 Vernacular Architecture

Seminar. American Colonial architecture of New England; variety of vernacular structures in later periods; e.g., barns, windmills, factories, etc. Important for students of architectural preservation and renovation.

566 Criticism of Modern Art

Practical exercises and studies in evaluation of modern painting, including supporting theory. Readings, discussion, and reports on assigned topics.

568 Contemporary Art

Issues and developments in American art after 1940 from perspective of the nineties. Questions of cultural and art historical contexts for the work of American artists during the postwar period, from Abstract Expressionism through recent options raised in the works themselves, artists' writings, critics' interpretations, and public reception and support. Ms. Mochon

581-5 Great Themes in Art History

Changing treatment of central themes, issues and problems in art history. Topics often cut across traditional geographic or chronological boundaries. Although topics change from semester to semester, offerings are usually available every year in Modern, Islamic, and American art and architecture. List of current offerings available in Art History Office, 317B Bartlett. Prerequisite: upper-level survey course bearing on the particular theme, or consent of instructor.

Graduate Seminars

601 Roman Painting

606 Studies in Medieval Iconography

611 Problems in Italian Art of the Early and High Renaissance

612 Problems in Italian Art of the Later Renaissance and Mannerism

616 Art of Northern Europe 1400-1600

617 Art of Northern Europe 1600-1700

621 19th-Century Painting and Sculpture

622 Art Since 1880

625 Problems in Contemporary Art

631 19th-Century American Architecture

632 20th-Century Architecture

636 Problems in Islamic Art and Architecture

681 Methods of Art History

History of the discipline, methodological orientations, and the conceptual and technical framework for art-historical research. Required of all M.A. candidates in Art History during first year of study.

682 Museum Studies

Introduction to museum methods and practices. Issues such as the role of museums in society, the development of col-lections, conservation, curatorial and registrarial responsibilities, museum management, public relations, funding, ethics, and the production of exhibitions and catalogs. Includes field trips to area museums. Consent of instructor required.

692A Winslow Homer and American Culture in the Gilded Age

693 Images and Reproductions

Meets one evening a week through the early part of the semester. The various ways in which works of art have been reproduced and how reproduction affects our perception of art. Includes methods of photography used in the scientific examination of art works. Practical discussion of photography of art and architecture, sources of reproductions, copyright laws. (Pass/Fail) Credit, 1.

694A 19th-Century Painting in the United States

695A Problems in Greek and Roman Art

696 Independent Study: Art History

Credit, 3-12