History of Medieval Art I [Sede VR] (2017/2018)

Learning outcomes

Educational Objectives
The purpose of this course is to discuss and analyze a critical theme relevant to the history of medieval art in order to consolidate the methodological bases and knowledge of the historical/critical presuppositions, with special emphasis on the works themselves in their spatial, historic and cultural context.
The syllabus, as well as the skills and expertise that will be gained in this course, are characteristic features of the studies involved in the interuniversity Art degree program.

SIENESE ART IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRECENTO. AMBROGIO LORENZETTI
The choice of this subject stems from the Ambrogio Lorenzetti exhibition that opened in Siena on October 22 2017, which is extremely important for learning more about an artist who is famous for the Allegory of Good and Bad Government cycle in the Palazzo Pubblico of Siena, yet whose overall oeuvre and biography are very little known. The lessons will feature an overall view of Sienese art in the first half of the 14th century, with particular attention paid to the oeuvre of Ambrogio Lorenzetti and his brother Pietro.

TEACHING METHOD
The course consists of face-to-face lessons as well as a field trip to Siena to visit the above-mentioned exhibition and the places where Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s works are kept.
Should the number of students prove to be sufficient, a seminar program will also be organized.
The e-learning platform will include the powerpoints presented during the lessons in order to provide a large body of images and an outline useful in studying the course textbook, both for students who attend the lessons and those who do not.
For the entire academic year the lecturer or professor will receive individual students at the hours indicated on the university Web page, without making an appointment. Any possible changes or suspension of the timetable will be promptly announced on the university website.
The course program is the same for students who attend the lessons and those who do not, but it is advisable for the latter to contact the professor before taking the examination.

COURSE TEXTBOOKS
The main course textbook will be the catalog of the Ambrogio Lorenzetti exhibition (eds. A. Bagnoli, R. Bartalini and M. Seidel; Cinisello Balsamo, Milan - Silvana editoriale, 2017) held in Siena from 22 October 2017 to 21 January 2018.
Additional required reading consists of the essays in Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Il Buon Governo, a cura di E. Castelnuovo, Milano - Electa 1995, and M.M. Donato, “’Quando i contrari son posti da presso…’ Breve itinerario intorno al Buon Governo, tra Siena e Firenze”, in Il Buono e il Cattivo Governo. Rappresentazione nelle arti dal Medioevo al Novecento, a cura di G. Pavanello, Venezia 2006, pp. 21-43.
Photocopies of the last-mentioned essays are available at the photocopy shop “30 e oltre”, as well as in Via Timavo 16 (opposite the Frinzi University Library)

EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
The examination is oral and will be based on the texts indicated at the beginning of the course and, for those attending the lessons, also on the lesson notes. Constant references to images will be made during the exam.
The oral examination aims at verifying the following:
- depth and range of the knowledge acquired and the capacity to expound this clearly
- level of analytic and systematic reasoning
- ability to connect areas of knowledge in a systematic fashion
- level of independent judgement.

STUDENT MODULE EVALUATION - 2017/2018