History of Medieval Art (advanced course)

The course aims to provide knowledge and understanding of the interpretative challenges of artistic phenomena, as well as the historical development of medieval art and its specific languages, and the ability to understand the main methods of art-historical analysis. The course also aims to provide historical knowledge of the material and immaterial artistic culture of the Middle Ages and the ability to relate it to ancient and modern art.

By the end of the course, students, having expanded their learning skills, will be able to independently apply the knowledge and methodologies acquired to the concrete analysis of monuments, artifacts, works, and documents, relating them to the historical, geographical, and literary context of the Middle Ages, and to communicate this knowledge. Students will also be able to conduct biographical research useful for reconstructing the context of a work attributable to the Middle Ages.

Lecture format.

Attendance is not compulsory.

1. Artistic events from the 5^th century to the middle of the 15^th century (6 cfu).
2. The sources of medieval art; historiographical paths and events of Romanesque Art in Europe; birth and contexts of Gothic Art in Europe (3 cfu).

1.

P. De Vecchi – E. Cerchiari, Arte nel tempo, Bompiani, Milano 1998 (o successive ristampe): volume I, tomo I, pp. 272-299; volume I, tomo II, pp. 302-651; volume II, tomo I, pp. 2-216.

 

2.

F. Stella, Il testo dell’immagine. Fonti letterarie per lo studio dell’arte medievale, Le Monnier Università (Mondadori), Milano 2021, pp. 466.

 

X. Barral I Altet, Contro l’arte romanica? Saggio su un passato reinventato, Jaca Book, Milano 2009, pp. 345.

 

C. Tosco, Le vie delle cattedrali gotiche, il Mulino, Bologna 2024, pp. 280.

 

Each student will study a selection of chapters of his/her choice from one or more of the books listed in module 2, equal to 3 credits (300 pages in total).

    

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

The teachers undertake, within the limits of the financial resources, to ensure as far as possible that a copy of the adopted texts is available in the departmental library or (in the case of hard-to-find texts, articles and essays) to make them available on Studium, in accordance with the applicable copyright laws.