FA 0016 History of Western Art 2: Renaissance-Modern (Spring 2008)

Dr. Valerie Grash, Associate Professor of Fine Arts
Office: 230B Biddle Hall
Phone: 269-7164
Email: vgrash@pitt.edu

Office Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:00-3:00 p.m.; Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and by appointment.

This course is a penetrating inquiry into the major accomplishments of Western art (painting, sculpture and architecture) from the Renaissance through the Modern era. The sterile museum environment in which we find it today most often shapes our perception of art; however, both art and architecture were intimately integrated into every facet of the pre-modern person's world, actively part of and used in daily life, reflecting and shaping the culture for which it was created. With that in mind, we will examine not only great monuments and artists, but also contextual issues concerning the creation of art, including religious, political, economic and social conditions that existed in specific societies at specific moments in time.

At the conclusion of this course, you will:

1. Recognize important works of art and architecture from the Renaissance to Modern period.
2. Have a basic understanding of each artistic style and historical period we examine.
3. Understand the various techniques used to create art and build architecture.
4. Be able to appreciate the long-lasting impact of past art and architecture upon western civilization, including our own time period and culture.

Fred S. Kleiner and Christin J. Mamiya, Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Concise History (Thomson- Wadsworth, 2005) ISBN: 0-534-63640-3

Additional textual and visual materials for this course (including terms and lists of works you will be tested on and PowerPoint presentations of class lectures); additional required readings; your grades; and pertinent announcements concerning class meetings and examinations are found at: http://courseweb.pitt.edu

I reserve the right to modify the timing, order and content of the course schedule. It is your responsibility to attend class and be aware of any changes. Check with the course web site regarding any class cancellations should they become necessary due to adverse weather conditions or other situations.

Be certain your cell phone ringer is turned OFF, as it is both annoying and disruptive to the entire class.

Faculty Statement:
My role is to facilitate learning through lecture and clarification of specific points through questioning and discussion, whether in the classroom, during office hours or via electronic correspondence. It is your responsibility to attend class, take accurate notes and approach me with any questions and issues for clarification in a timely manner.

Attendance:
While there is no attendance policy for this course, be forewarned that most of what you will be tested on is discussed thoroughly in class. Even with the textbook, nothing replaces viewing the images projected on screen. Therefore, regular attendance is necessary to succeed in this course. In addition, as classroom discussion is expected, poor attendance will adversely affect you if it comes down to a borderline decision on your final grade.

Notes and Note Taking:
Under no circumstances do I provide notes for missed classes. It is your responsibility, if you miss a class, to acquire the lecture notes from a classmate. Class assignments and announcements are available on the course website. You may tape-record lectures as long as you inform the instructor in advance, and do not disturb others in the class.

Makeup Exams:
I give make-up exams only in cases with legitimate, documented reasons (death in the family, personal hospitalization, required fieldtrips, etc.). In such cases, inform me in advance and provide written confirmation of your absence. For serious issues, you must contact Dr. Jon Gonder's office (269-2076, or gonder@pitt.edu) as soon as possible, and he will notify all your professors of your situation. The make-up exam must be taken within one week of the scheduled test; only one makeup exam per student will be permitted. No one can make-up the final exam, which must be taken at the scheduled time.

Late Assignments:
No extensions are granted for class assignments. Due dates are clearly noted on the syllabus at the beginning of the semester. You should begin each assignment in a timely manner and even complete assignments early. Illness or any other excuse has no bearing on the fact that your work was not turned in on time. Any assignment not turned in by the due date will not be graded, thus earning 0 points for the work. No exceptions are permitted so do not ask!

Academic Integrity:
Please read carefully the Academic Integrity Guidelines in your student handbook. They will be followed to the letter in this course. There is ZERO tolerance for cheating or plagiarism. Any time that you use another person's words or thoughts as your own without giving them proper credit is plagiarism. Any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in an automatic "F" (0 points) for that assignment, and steps may be taken, according to the Academic Integrity Guidelines, to receive an "F" for the course and for action leading to expulsion from the university. I will not permit re-writing any suspected plagiarized assignment.

Disabilities:
Students with disabilities who may be requesting academic accommodations for this course should notify the course instructor and Theresa M. Horner, L.P.C., Coordinator of Disability Services, as early as possible in the term. The Coordinator of Disability Services will verify the disability and determine reasonable accommodations for the course. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about disability services at UPJ, please call 269- 7109 or visit the Academic Support Center in G-16 Owen Library.

There will be four examinations (January 31, February 26, March 25, and during Finals Week) during the semester, each worth 115 points. The format will comprise of multiple-choice and short answer questions drawn from class notes and readings. The final will NOT be comprehensive, but will cover only the material since the previous exam. I will post study guides on the course website, and facilitate online study sessions before each exam.

You will be required to write a 3-4 typewritten, double-spaced reflective essay that addresses one of the following issues in contemporary art:

• What role (if any) should local, state and federal government play in advancing the arts in the U.S.? Should it be the responsibility of government to sponsor and develop cultural expression, or should we rely upon corporate sponsorship alone? Does corporate funding undermine the integrity of the arts community and the work created? Historically, we see art being sponsored by different types of governments-monarchies, republics, dictatorships, etc. Use specific examples from those societies we have studied this semester to advance your arguments, in either the affirmative or negative.

• In what ways can and should elementary and secondary schools advance arts education? What is the value of cultural literacy for students? How can studying art affect the way in which students approach other fields of study? Draw from your personal experiences to comment upon either the success or failure in your own school to teach art, art history, music, and theater. If you plan to teach, comment upon the ways in which you can integrate the arts into your lesson plans.

• Honorific monuments have played an important role in the history of art almost from the very beginning of human civilization. Yet, while the forms and materials used have changed over the years, the underlying emphasis on communicating specific points of view has not. Examine the proposed design for the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville (http://www.honorflight93.org/memorial/design). How are the forms and materials used appropriate for a memorial to those who died there? What experience do you think visitors will have while at the site? Draw from examples of similar memorials from the recent past for inspiration and comment. What would you have done differently?

Remember, this is intended to be an opinion (not a research) paper, so your grade will be determined upon not only how well your paper is technically written, but also upon how well you articulate your arguments. I will gladly look over drafts and make suggestions for improvement well in advance. Due date for this assignment: April 15

January 15 Early Renaissance in Florence (Gardner's, pp 215-216; 227-234)
January 17 Patrons and Themes in Early Renaissance Art (Gardner's, pp 235-240; 243-246)

January 22 High Renaissance in Italy: Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael (Gardner's, pp 250-257)
January 24 High Renaissance in Rome: Michelangelo (Gardner's, pp 257-261)

January 29 Renaissance and Mannerism in Sixteenth Century Venice (Gardner's, pp 264-272)
January 31 Exam I

February 05 Northern Renaissance Painting (Gardner's, pp 218-223; 274-277; 278; 280)
February 07 Northern Renaissance Painting (con't)

February 12 Counter-Reformation Ideals in Italian Baroque Art (Gardner's, pp 287-290; 291-293)
February 14 Baroque Art in Spain and Flanders (Gardner's, pp 280-282; 295-300)

February 19 Dutch Baroque Art (Gardner's, pp 300-308)
February 21 Baroque and Rococo in France and England (Gardner's, pp 308-314; 317-323)

February 26 Exam II
February 28 Neoclassicism and Romanticism (Gardner's, pp 325-327; 329-339)

March 04 Realism and Photography (Gardner's, pp 340-342; 345-348; 352)
March 06 Manet, Monet, and Impressionism (Gardner's, pp 348-350; 354-356)

March 11 No Class-Spring Break
March 13 No Class-Spring Break

March 18 American Expatriate Impressionists, and Post-Impressionism (Gardner's, pp 356-358; 362-364)
March 20 Quest for the Primitive: Van Gogh, Gauguin and Symbolism (Gardner's, pp 359-362; 364-366)

March 25 Exam III
March 27 Art at the Turn of the Century (Gardner's, pp 371-376)

April 01 Cubism and Its Influence (Gardner's, pp 376-381; 383-384)
April 03 Dada and Surrealism (Gardner's, pp 381-383; 387-391; 398)

April 08 American Art: Coming of Age (Gardner's, pp 383-386; 398-402)
April 10 Mid-Century Art and Architecture (Gardner's, pp 393-396; 407-410)

April 15 The 1960s: Pop Art and More (Gardner's, pp 415-417) * Issue Paper due
April 17 The 1970s and Beyond: Looking Back in Art History (Gardner's, pp 412-413; 418-430)

Final Exams:

Section A (9:30 a.m. class) Tuesday, April 22, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Section B (12:30 p.m. class) Monday, April 21, 9:00-11:00 a.m.