Domenico Ghirlandaio, ‘Birth of the Virgin’, c. 1486-1490

 

ARTHIST 325: Imaging the Renaissance

Semester 2, 2019

Lectures: Monday 10 am - 12 pm

 

Lecturers: Dr Natalie Bell (Art History) n.bell@auckland.ac.nz

Room 751, Humanities / Arts 1 (building 206)

Office Hours: Monday and Thursday, 12:30-1:30 

 

Associate Professor Kim Phillips (History) km.phillips@auckland.ac.nz

Room 727, Humanities / Arts 1 (building 206)

 

Dr Lindsay Diggelmann (History) l.diggelmann@auckland.ac.nz

Room 733, Humanities / Arts 1 (building 206)

Office Hours: Tuesday afternoons - usually 1.30-3.30, but times may vary

 

 

Here is the front section of the 2019 Courseguide with course information and reading lists:

Imaging-Courseguide-2019.pdf

Here is the full version, including weekly tutorial readings:

Imaging-Courseguide-2019-full version.pdf

 

Course Description

‘All history involves representation, and all representations are part of history.’ (Peter Burke)

‘Imaging the Renaissance’ offers an examination of major topics within the society and culture of Europe between c. 1400 and c. 1700, especially as expressed in visual images. The structure is thematic and the course will combine the differing approaches of historians and art historians to the Renaissance period, broadly defined. Topics include the Renaissance Court, Merchant Culture, Carnival, Food, Masculinities, Femininities, Witchcraft, and Death. Examples will be taken from Northern Europe and from Italy, drawing on the work of artists such as Bruegel, Holbein, Dürer, Mantegna, and Ghirlandaio.

Each topic will be discussed in two consecutive lectures. The first will provide historical background material and an introduction to historiographical issues surrounding the weekly theme. The second will focus on important artworks and their interpretation. This will be complemented by discussion of key images and readings on the topics in tutorials.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

We have designed the course so that students who complete Art History 225/325 are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Improve their knowledge of European society and art during the Renaissance period.
• Gain familiarity with a number of significant visual representations of past societies and develop the skills to evaluate them effectively in both oral and written formats.
• Engage with scholarship on an inter-disciplinary basis, learning to appreciate and adopt methodologies used both by historians and by art historians.

 

More generally, successful completion of Art History 225/325 will help students to develop skills that are consistent with the Graduate Profile of the University of Auckland and the Bachelor of Arts degree. Anticipated skills include the following specific Graduate Profile capabilities:

• Able to define, contextualize and address questions or problems through multi- and/or interdisciplinary enquiry.
• Able to conceive and formulate questions based on synthesising information and ideas from multiple sources and diverse perspectives.
• Express and present information and ideas clearly, coherently, and persuasively in a variety of forms to diverse audiences.

 

Note: This course is listed in the Major Schedules for Art History and History. Students may use it to fulfil part of their degree requirements in either Art History or History (but not both).

 

Lecture and Assessment Programme

         

Week 1	Monday 22 July	Introduction Topic 1: Late Medieval Religion  (Tutorials start in week 1)
Week 2	Monday 29 July	Topic 2: The Renaissance Court
Week 3	Monday 5 August	Topic 3: Merchant Culture
Week 4	Monday 12 August	Topic 4: Carnival
Week 5	Monday 19 August	Topic 5: Food
Week 6	Monday 26 August	In-Class Test, 20%, 1 hour Essay Workshop (No tutorials this week)
	Monday 2 September Monday 9 September	Mid-Semester Break
Week 7	Monday 16 Sept	Topic 6: Print and the Book
Week 8	Monday 23 September	Topic 7: The Reformation
		Essay 1, 40%, 2500 words Due 9pm, Wednesday 25 September
Week 9	Monday 30 September	Topic 8: Masculinity
Week 10	Monday 7 October	Topic 9: Femininity and the Home
Week 11	Monday 14 October	Topic 10: Witchcraft
Week 12	Monday 21 October	Topic 11: Death Conclusion and Course Review    Essay 2, 40%, 2500 words Due 9 pm, Wednesday 30 October