PRINCIPLES OF ART HISTORY
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The fundamental objective is to explain how to study the main artistic movements, which requires multiple approaches and different methods of analysis, although in constant respect for the unity of history (2nd descriptor). The student must: know how to use the evaluation of mature knowledge (3rd descriptor); start mastering the correct use of the disciplinary terminology (4th descriptor); it has been studied in an autonomous and original way to connect phenomena and to read the complexity of the history of art (5th descriptor)
Prerequisites
There is no mandatory propedeuticity,
Course contents summary
The course illustrates the methodology used to study the history of art and the evolution of artistic language between the twelfth and twentieth centuries.
Course contents
History of art from the Middle Ages to the Contemporary: Instructions for use:
Italian art: Giotto di Bondone
The Florentine Renaissance: Brunelleschi and Donatello
Masaccio's painting
Why Renaissance?
The historical - artistic labels
The Florentine perspective
Shape and iconography
The representation of space
Contemporary: why?
Classic and Neoclassical
Realism
Symbolism
The avant-gardes of the twentieth century and beyond
Recommended readings
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Reference Manual:
• Antonio Pinelli, La Storia dell'arte. Instructions for use, Bari GLF editors Laterza, 2009.
• The reading of the manual will be accompanied by one of the following essays listed:
Carlo Ginzburg, Miti emblemi spie. Morfologia e storia, Piccola Biblioteca Einaudi, Torino 1986 e successive edizioni.
Alessandro Conti, “L’evoluzione dell’artista”, in Storia dell’arte italiana. Questioni e metodi, a cura di Giovanni Previtali, parte prima Materiali e problemi, vol. II, L’artista e il pubblico, Torino (Giulio Einaudi Editore) 1979, pp. 115-263;
Museo Nazionale, 150 opere d'arte della storia d'Italia dal programma di Radio 3 Rai a cura di Monica d'Onofrio, Milano, Officina Libraria 2019 (3 opere a scelta).
L. Bellosi, La pecora di Giotto, Milano Abscondita 2015
R. Krautheimer, Tre capitali cristiane, topografia e politica, Torino, Einaudi, 1987: i capitoli dedicati a Roma e Milano (PDF on-line).
L. Bellosi, Giotto, Firenze, Scala, 1981
H. Honour, Neo-Classicism, Harmondsworth, Penguin Books, 1968 (Neoclassicismo, trad. it. di R. Federici, Torino, Einaudi, 1993)
L. Nochlin, Realism, Harmondsworth, Penguin Books, 1971 (Il realismo. La pittura in Europa nel XIX secolo, trad. it. di G. Scattone, Torino, Einaudi, 1979, 1989)
M.G. Messina, Le muse d'oltremare. Esotismo e primitivismo dell'arte contemporanea, Torino, Einaudi, 1993
F. Rovati, L’arte del primo Novecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2015
A. Del Puppo, L’arte contemporanea. Il secondo Novecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2013
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with slides, and guided tours to the art places of the city.
Assessment methods and criteria
The assessment will take place through an oral exam lasting about 20-30 minutes. During the examination, images and reference texts can be shown. Students will have the texts adopted with them.The evaluation will consist of an oral test, inherent specifically i
topics covered in the course and those included in the recommended bibliography. A question will be on a topic chosen by the candidate. A fail is determined by the lack of an understanding of the minimum content of the course, the inability to express oneself adequately, by a lack of autonomous preparation, the inability to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of complex texts, as well as an inability to make independent judgments. A pass (18-23/30) is determined by the student’s possession of the minimum, fundamental contents of the course, an adequate level of autonomous preparation and ability to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of complex texts, as well as an acceptable level of ability in making independent judgments. Middle-range scores (24-27/30) are assigned to the student who produces evidence of a more than sufficient level (24-25/30) or good level (26-27/30) in the evaluation indicators listed above. Higher scores (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) are awarded on the basis of the student’s demonstration of a very good or excellent level in the evaluation indicators listed above
