Art History

3 semester credits. This course explores the principal architects and artists, monuments, and themes from the 1300s up to the 1500s in Italian art and architecture. Course topics include lectures and are supported by site visits in the city of Florence. A key emphasis will be on Renaissance architecture in Florence, and architectural developments in other Italian towns will also be analyzed. Special topics will include architectural theory, Medici and papal patronage, urban planning, and church and palace design. Architects such as Brunelleschi, Michelozzo, Alberti, and Michelangelo will provide important points of reflection and study while visiting a curated selection of Renaissance buildings and urban spaces in Florence. Prerequisites: One lower-level History, Art History, History of Architecture course, or equivalent.

3 semester credits. The course explores the secret facets of Florence from an artistic, historical, and social perspective through thematic walks and visits. Embracing the city as an unrestricted classroom, the course unveils artworks, parks, streets, and spaces such as workshops and laboratories that keep the earliest Florentine traditions alive. These traditions include carpentry, music, marble carving, papermaking, and gastronomy. Furthermore, walks and visits will investigate the changing aspects of the city from an architectural and socio-ethnic point of view. Course sessions start in the city center and transition to the areas beyond the ancient walls. This progression allows students to visualize, assess, and comprehend hidden spatial narratives of Florence from the well-known to less-frequented areas. As a result, students discover the significance of the city in its entirety, explore the relationship between the Florentine community and the arts, and develop a new way of “city-gazing” that generates knowledge through walking.

3 semester credits. This one-week intensive course explores the secret facets of Florence from an artistic, historical, and social perspective through thematic walks, visits, and dining activities. Embracing the city as an unrestricted classroom, the course unveils artworks, parks, streets, and spaces such as workshops and laboratories that keep the earliest Florentine traditions alive. These traditions include carpentry, music, marble carving, papermaking, and gastronomy. Furthermore, walks and visits will investigate the changing aspects of the city from an architectural and socio-ethnic point of view. Course sessions start in the city center and transition to the areas beyond the ancient walls. This progression allows students to visualize, assess, and comprehend hidden spatial narratives of Florence from the well-known to less-frequented areas. As a result, students discover the significance of the city in its entirety, explore the relationship between the Florentine community and the arts, and develop a new way of “city-gazing” that generates knowledge through walking.

3 semester credits. This introductory art history course will take students through Italian and European art from the classical Greek and Roman periods up to and including the eighteenth century. Special emphasis will be given to Florentine and Italian art of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and to the "Golden Age" of the Renaissance. The course is aimed at students who have not taken a history of western art course before. Lectures will alternate with on-site teaching in Florence including architectural walking tours and visits to relevant museums, churches, and palaces.

3 semester credits. This course explores the principal architects, monuments and themes of fifteenth and sixteenth century Italian architecture. The course includes site visits in the city of Florence. Emphasis will be on Renaissance architecture in Florence, but will also include architectural developments in Rome, Urbino, Mantua, Verona and Vicenza. Special topics will include: architectural theory, Medici and papal patronage, urban planning, and church and palace design. A special focus will be dedicated to architects: Brunelleschi, Alberti, Michelozzo, Giuliano Sangallo, Bramante, Antonio Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo, Giulio Romano and Palladio. Visits to key Renaissance buildings and urban spaces in Florence are included.

3 semester credits. The course explores the works of artists who, over the last 50 years, have made today's art and constructed the relationship between artists and the city of Florence in the Italian context. Emphasis is placed on comparing the panorama of traditional, historic Florence and Italy to international contemporary art. The course will involve lectures (a survey of art in Tuscany and Italy, including abstract experiences, Italian pop art, minimal art, Poesia visiva, Trans-avant-gardism and the present-day tendencies of figurative art) and fact-finding visits to artist ateliers where course participants are encouraged to ask questions, i.e. which factors led artists towards certain decisions, which cultural forces led artists to adopt certain forms, etc. The course alternates between fieldwork for visiting galleries and ateliers and carrying out interpretative analyses of the fieldwork in the classroom. The course encourages contact with the living tissue of art. The Florentine creative scene, vibrant but rooted in history, is varied and complex; this course gives the student the opportunity to establish direct, informed contact with it. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art History or equivalent.

3 semester credits. The cultural studies capstone course provides the student the opportunity to integrate many of the topics of the overall course of study. During this project, students must apply their cumulative knowledge and experientially acquired skills to complete the course project. Prerequisites: Open to approved students of senior standing.

3 semester credits. This course spans the history of Italian gardens from the 1200s to the 1700s. The course explores the evolution of the Italian garden landscape starting from the ancient Roman roots and the emergence of herbal gardens in medieval monasteries for medicinal remedies to the flourishing of early Renaissance masterpieces in the great palaces and villas of Italy. The early transformation of the garden from functional to recreational purposes will be examined in religious and humanistic contexts. A second phase of evolution from the recreation to symbols of power will be introduced through the gardens of ruling families and religious figures who combined garden aesthetics with experimentation and horticultural innovation until the late Renaissance. The course will conclude with the waning of the Italian garden in the 18th century, which ceded the domination of Italian gardens to the landscaping practices of France.

3 semester credits. Through an in-depth focus on three major Italian artists - Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Bernini - this course will examine the development of significant artistic movements from the High Renaissance to the Baroque. Michelangelo Buonarroti's genius in painting, sculpture, and architecture epitomizes the 16th century High Renaissance, but at the same time his achievements paved the way for the Baroque style. The Baroque will be examined through the work of two of the most innovative and original artists of the 17th century: Caravaggio and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The dramatic supra-realistic paintings of Caravaggio will be related to his equally dramatic lifestyle. The impact of Caravaggio's style in Northern Europe will be discussed in detail. Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose name has become synonymous with the High Baroque, produced sculpture and architecture that can be read as compelling visual embodiments of the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation and the idea of the "Church Triumphant," as well as of secular absolutism. Lectures in the classroom and on-site visits in Florence provide the student with a detailed knowledge of the three artists and their oeuvre within the context of political, religious, and social history. This course may include a field learning activities. Prerequisites: Survey of Western Art or equivalent.

3 semester credits. The High Renaissance style in the first half of the sixteenth century is considered to be the apex of the Italian Renaissance art that had been initiated a century prior. Dominated by the achievements of Leonardo da Vinci, Bramante, Michelangelo, and Raphael, it is a classic style of harmony and balance which was to serve both as a model as well as a point of departure for a new generation of painters, sculptors, and architects who took the formal vocabulary of the High Renaissance and transformed it into the style known as Mannerism. This varied and often contradictory style, which explored anti-classicism, subjective expression and complex movement as well as a highly polished and stylish sophistication, will be placed in the context of the profound social, religious, and scientific turmoil that characterized much of the sixteenth century in Italy. The course begins with an overview of the High Renaissance style particularly in Florence, Rome, and Venice before considering the main exponents of the Mannerist style including Rosso Fiorentino, Pontormo, Parmigianino, Giulio Romano, Bronzino, and Giambologna. Prerequisites: Introduction to Western Art or its equivalent.

3 semester credits. This introductory course is intended for students who have little to no background in the history of Western Art. Before examining the beginnings of Renaissance art that took flourished in Florence in the fifteenth century, students will be given a broad overview of Greek and Roman art and architecture, whose emulation is fundamental to understanding the cultural revolution of the Renaissance. Through on-site visits to medieval churches and palaces in Florence, students will early on become familiar with the Romanesque and Gothic styles in which the first Renaissance painters, sculptors, and architects found their roots and from which they were to dramatically diverge. As site-visits are a significant part of this course, the focus will be on Florentine artists such as Masaccio, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. By way of comparison, consideration will also be given to other important centers of art in Italy such as Venice, Siena, and Ferrara. In addition to analyzing the style and subject matter of works of art, students will learn about the techniques of painting and sculpture and comparisons will be made with techniques in other countries during the same period, for example the use of oil paints in Flemish painting.

3 semester credits. The genius of Leonardo Da Vinci is boundless and this course introduces students to his universal genius through an overview of his life, art, and his remarkable approach to the exploration of nature. Centuries before the scientific method of investigation became a standard for philosophers and scientists, Leonardo had already developed the essential characteristics that are still a part of the methodology today. Yet, his experiential and interdisciplinary approach to the world around him is still a mystery that continues to inspire current generations with the challenge to unveil the layers of his creative powers. In this course, students will have the opportunity to investigate Leonardo’s intellectual evolution, his interest in botanical studies, and his quest to discover the secrets of nature that allowed him to become a master and inspiration of Renaissance art. Leonardo’s unique path will be analyzed through a focus on his youth in Florence, his artistic career in Milan and France and the legacy of his masters, with investigation of his anatomical dissections and the inventions of extraordinary machines, as well as his approach to the mysteries of alchemy and some of his lesser-known interests. Not everybody knows that Leonardo’s genius also involved the study of table manners, the creation of kitchen utensils, and the planning of pioneering kitchen devices that will also be experimented in this course. Discussions on Leonardo’s various studies and their outcomes, guided visits in locations related to his artistic and scientific vocation, field learning activities, and a series of practical workshops on recipes written and inspired by Leonardo’s eclecticism will provide the tools to construct a comprehensive understanding of the man behind the genius. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.

3 semester credits. This art history courses provides students with a unique and stimulating opportunity to study Renaissance art in Florence - the city of the movement's birth. The course will provide students with an in-depth exploration of Florentine Renaissance painting, sculpture, and architecture throughout the 15th century and into the beginning of the 16th century. Students will not only learn to identify and analyze the individual styles of artists such as Montello, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Verrocchio, Leonardo da Vinci, and the young Michelangelo, but they will also be able to relate the artists and their work to the social, religious, philosophical, political, and cultural contexts of the time. Patronage conditions will be examined with a particular emphasis on the Medici family as arbiters of taste. Visits to museum, churches, palaces, and other modes of on-site teaching form an integral and essential part of this course. Students will also be expected to carry out assignments related to museums and other art historical sites not included in the class visits. Prerequisites: College-level survey course on Western Art or equivalent.

3 semester credits. This course examines the relationship between Florentine art during the Renaissance and the immediate conditions in which it was created. The training of Renaissance artists will be explored through an examination of the highly regulated workshop (bottega) system. The organization of workshops, the social position, and material conditions of artists will be considered along with the main materials used in the creation of works art ranging from large scale bronze sculptures for public spaces in Florence to small objets d'art for the home. Much emphasis will be placed on the wide variety of works that all artists were trained to produce. The techniques examined will include fresco painting, egg tempera on panels, and the later introduction of oil painting. Drawing techniques will receive particular attention through topics such as underdrawings (sinopie) for mural paintings, silver point drawings, and the revolutionary drawing methods used by Leonardo da Vinci. In considering sculpture, students will be introduced to the wide range of materials used in the Renaissance period, i.e. wood, clay, glazed terracotta, marble, bronze, limestone, gold and silver. Coursework will also cover the techniques employed by Michelangelo, whose many unfinished works reveal great works of art "in the making." The course includes on-site visits to museums, galleries, and churches as well as to present-day craftsmens' "botteghe" in Florence.

3 semester credits. The development of the city of Florence and that of the Church are inextricably linked with one another; Christian, and more specifically, Catholic faith provided a framework for one’s life, informed the development of social institutions and governing bodies, and inspired the development and flourishing of art and architecture during the period that would come to be known as the Renaissance. In short, this faith touched every aspect of life in the Florence of centuries past, and its present is still seen, felt, and experienced when moving through the dense urban fabric of the city. This course will also investigate the ways in which religious faith permeated numerous aspects of Florentine society and daily life, from the monasteries and convents spread throughout the city, to its charitable institutions and hospitals, to the care for the souls of the condemned, and, more joyfully, to celebratory traditions that survive to the present day. Themed walks will offer an opportunity to explore these themes through engaging with works of sacred art and architecture, as well as sites and routes of religious significance. Works and structures will be contextualized within the historic period in which they were produced, allowing students to understand how and why they were executed, as well as to explore the significance they would have held for their original viewers and to discuss what they mean to beholders today. The analysis of these spaces, places, and works will highlight additional layers of meaning and interpretation: life, death, violence, popular culture, and social change, among others. Open to students from all backgrounds and academic concentrations, this course will allow participants to discover the city of Florence through a unique lens while simultaneously encouraging them to learn about Italian historical epochs and the cultural diversity of its traditions. The classroom approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students' academic and personal enrichment.

3 semester credits. This course provides a comprehensive survey of Italian art and architecture through five major movements in Italian history, starting from the art of the Roman Empire. The Medieval period is analyzed from its Byzantine roots and influence, which transitioned into the groundbreaking flowering of Renaissance artistic culture. Coursework will continue with the evolution of Italian art through the intellectual and emotional complexity of Mannerism, and conclude with the Baroque period sparked by the Counter-Reformation agenda of the Catholic church. The parallel development of related disciplines and the political and sociological currents during the historic era of each major movement will provide a wider perspective of Italian art and architecture throughout the centuries. This class includes field learning hours. Field learning is a method of educating through first-hand experience. Skills, knowledge, and experience are acquired outside of the traditional academic classroom setting and may include field activities, field research, and service learning projects. The field learning experience is cultural; because it is intended to be wide-reaching, field-related content is not limited to the course subject but seeks to supplement and enrich academic topics. Students will have the opportunity to integrate theory and practice while experiencing Italian culture, art, and community within the Italian territory. Faculty will lead students in experiencing Italian culture through guided projects and field experiences as planned for the course. Field learning will be developed through classroom preparation, follow up projects, and guided learning outcomes. Field learning will provide students with the opportunity to develop skills and appreciate the multifold components of Italian Culture through direct experience. Field education will advance student learning as a relationship-centered process.

6 semester credits. This course provides a comprehensive survey of Italian art and architecture through five major movements in Italian history, starting from the art of the Roman Empire. The Medieval period is analyzed from its Byzantine roots and influence, which transitioned into the groundbreaking flowering of Renaissance artistic culture. Coursework will continue with the evolution of Italian art through the intellectual and emotional complexity of Mannerism, and conclude with the Baroque period sparked by the Counter-Reformation agenda of the Catholic church. The parallel development of related disciplines and the political and sociological currents during the historic era of each major movement will provide a wider perspective of Italian art and architecture throughout the centuries.  This class includes field learning hours. Field learning is a method of educating through first-hand experience. Skills, knowledge, and experience are acquired outside of the traditional academic classroom setting and may include field activities, field research, and service learning projects. The field learning experience is cultural; because it is intended to be wide-reaching, field-related content is not limited to the course subject but seeks to supplement and enrich academic topics. Students will have the opportunity to integrate theory and practice while experiencing Italian culture, art, and community within the Italian territory. Faculty will lead students in experiencing Italian culture through guided projects and field experiences as planned for the course. Field learning will be developed through classroom preparation, follow up projects, and guided learning outcomes. Field learning will provide students with the opportunity to develop skills and appreciate the multifold components of Italian Culture through direct experience. Field education will advance student learning as a relationship-centered process.

3 semester credits. This course is divided into three parts. Since religious subject matter dominated Western art up to the end of the seventeenth century, the first part of the course will look at Christian symbolism in art and help students to decipher the visual language of images and objects in religious paintings, sculpture, architecture, and objets d'art. The emphasis will be on Italian art from the medieval and Renaissance periods, whose symbols can range from the straightforward identification of saints by objects they hold, to the more complex messages relating to Christian belief such as the concept of incarnation. The second part of the course will have a more secular focus (with an inevitably strong interconnection with religious symbolism). Through a concentration on Italian ruling families (i.e. the Medici in Florence), students will learn about the importance and significance of emblems (imprese) and symbols adopted by individuals and families during the period of the Italian Renaissance. In conclusion, students will look at the ways through which geometry is used symbolically in art and architecture to communicate a specific belief. With this regard topics feature geometric forms such as the circle, triangle, square, pentagon, and related two and three-dimensional forms such as the cross, spiral, Golden Mean, and Platonic solids. Museums visits integrated to the course include the Uffizi Gallery and the Bargello Museum.

3 semester credits. This course examines major philosophies and concepts that have contributed to the discussion of art theory, aesthetic discourse, and criticism in the wider context of contemporary society. Reading and analyzing various texts from antiquity to the present, students will explore the underlying questions and meanings of art and how they interact or conflict throughout the development of Western thought, behavior, and society. The aim of this course is to utilize art theory foundations in order to develop an informed critical analysis. Texts covered in class will include writings by philosophers, critics, and artists such as Plato, Alberti, Kant, Benjamin, Greenberg, Barthes, Baudrillard, Lippard, and Trin T. Minha. Prerequisites: Introduction to Art History.