Art & Art History

Courses Taught

• ARTH 125 Survey of Western Art
  An introduction to Western art from about 25,000 BC to the 21st century. Students learn some of the many relationships of visual art to various environmental contexts and some of the ways humans have employed art as a means to respond to life's experiences and also to influence those experiences. Additionally, students learn various methodologies of approaching art, such as formalist, feminist, Marxist. Through practice, students learn techniques of visual analysis and build skills to evaluate visual images.
• ARTH 201 Arts of Ancient Greece and Rome
  Introductory survey of the art and architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome, beginning with the Bronze Age in the Aegean to the reign of emperor Constantine. The course covers the history, culture and social context of major works produced by these civilizations and analyzes developments in style, taste and use of materials. Recommended ARTH 125. Offered once a year. ARTH 201 and CLA 201 are cross-listed.
• ARTH 202 Medieval Art
  Survey of the arts of the Middle Ages and their development from the Roman catacomb through the high Gothic cathedral. Analysis of art as a reflection of changing political and social conditions in Europe, with particular emphasis on liturgical arts in the Middle Ages. Recommended prior course: ARTH 125.
• ARTH 203 Northern Renaissance Art
  Introductory survey of the art of the Northern Renaissance, ranging from the meticulous detail of Jan van Eyck to the superb workmanship of Albrecht Dürer to the mysterious and grotesque figures of Hieronymus Bosch. In lectures, readings and class discussions, students explore the artistic styles, history, culture and social context of works produced during the 15th-16th centuries in Northern Europe. Topics include the rise of naturalism in the Renaissance, the pioneering advances in oil painting and printmaking, the use of “disguised symbolism”, portraiture and genre subjects, and the impact of religious conflict and the Reformation.
• ARTH 245 Art of the Global Renaissance
  An overview of art and architecture produced across cultures from the 14th-17th centuries. The course looks at the vibrant array of visual works from different areas of the world to de-center the traditional Euro-centered definitions of “Renaissance” and incorporate diverse perspectives, techniques, materials, iconographies, social expectations and cultural contexts. This course draws on new approaches to art in a global context and explores how different geographies interacted with each other through the circulation of goods, resources and knowledge.
• ARTH 303 Art of the Italian Renaissance
  Survey of the art and architecture of the Italian Renaissance from the thirteenth to the beginning of the sixteenth century. Course explores the characteristics of this important historical period, traditionally defined as a time of rebirth. Class material introduces students to primary sources and biographies of prominent artists, including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, as well as the broader historical context of patronage, politics and social customs. Prerequisite: ARTH 115, or 125, or 201, 202; or permission of the instructor. Offered once a year.
• ARTH 307 Baroque Art in the Age of Caravaggio and Vermeer
  Art Study of painting, sculpture, and architecture in Europe, from the first decades after the Reformation through their transformation under the impact of the Counter Reformation. Artistic developments in Italy are discussed, as well as allied approaches in northern Europe and Spain. Works of some of the world's best known artists are examined, including Bernini, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, El Greco, Velasquez, and Poussin. Prerequisite: ARTH 115, or 125, or any 200-level art history course; or permission of the instructor. Alternate years.
• FYS 197 Florence: Art, Money and Power in the Renaissance City
  What makes a city great? We will explore this question by looking at one of Europe’s most prominent cities at the height of its power, Renaissance Florence. This class will be a stimulating introductory survey to the works of art and architecture that have made this city famous. We will look at a rich variety of multimedia sources and interdisciplinary writings that will bring this culture to life, getting to know influential personalities from the Medici to Michelangelo. Many issues still speak to us today—how material wealth and political power clash with ethical beliefs and religious devotion. We will explore research on gender, sexuality, social class, race and the impact of colonial power and trade in an emerging globalized world. From high art to street culture, from frescoes to fashion, from local Madonnas to marvels from the so-called “New World”, we will get to know this city inside and out. There will be a special focus on the study of art and culture beyond the classroom, as we take a field trip to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and hear about the rich experiences of travel abroad by guest speakers from the Center for Global Education.