School of the Arts McMaster
University
ART &
CIVILIZATION AT THE DAWN OF THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE 1200-1400
ART HIST 3S03, Term I,
2013
Lectures: Monday & Wednesday, 1:30-2:20 pm.; Friday, 11:30-12:20 pm.
Location: TSH B106
Instructor: Greg Davies
Office: TSH 429
Email: gdavies@mcmaster.ca
Office hours: Monday, 11:30 am -12:30 pm., or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will focus upon the visual arts in Italy
during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, when the transition from the
late Middle Ages to the early Renaissance occurred. Students will explore the
important shifts in artistic theory, patronage, style and subject matter that
arose during this time of dramatic social, political and religious change.
Due to the specialized nature of the course subject matter there is no
singular survey text that will be used. The course text by Millard Meiss (see
below) will serve as an important resource in the process of building a
knowledge base, however students can only benefit from a diverse range of
perspectives. As the course progresses other reserve readings (see below) will
be introduced in order to augment the ideas addressed in the lectures.
COURSE TEXT & READINGS:
Millard Meiss, Painting in Florence and Siena After the Black Death:
The Arts, Religion and Society in the Mid-Fourteenth Century, (Princeton,
1978). Text available at the McMaster University Bookstore
Select readings will also be assigned from the following books (on
reserve at Mills Library):
Michael Baxandall, Giotto and the Orators: Humanist observers of
painting in Italy and the discovery of pictorial composition, 1350-1450,
(Oxford, 1971).
Hayden B.J. Maginnis, The World of the Early Sienese Painter,
(University Park, 2001).
COURSE EVALUATION: The final grade for
this course will derive from three pieces of work. The requirements for each
will be discussed in class. There will be one short test, one written
assignment and a final examination. The marking scheme for each is listed
below:
Test: 25% (written in class, Oct. 18)
Written assignment: 35% (due in class Nov. 11)
Final exam: 40% (date TBA)
The requirements for each will be discussed in class.
*Instructions and guidelines for the essay will be provided during the
week of Sept. 16.
MODIFICATIONS TO THE COURSE OUTLINE:
The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of
the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines
for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification
becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will
be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the
responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites
weekly during the term and to note any changes.
EMAIL COMMUNICATION:
It is the policy of the Faculty of Humanities that all email
communication sent from students to instructors (including TAs), and from
students to staff, must originate from the student’s own McMaster University email account. This policy protects
confidentiality and confirms the identity of the student. Instructors will
delete emails that do not originate from a McMaster email account.
EXTENSIONS OR ACCOMMODATONS:
Extensions or other accommodations will be determined by the instructor
and will only be considered if supported by appropriate documentation. Absences of less than 5 days may be
reported using the McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF) atwww.mcmaster.ca/msaf/ . If you are unable to use the MSAF,
you should document the absence with your faculty office. In all cases, it is YOUR
responsibility to follow up with the instructor immediately to see if an extension
or other accommodation will be granted, and what form it will take. There are
NO automatic extensions or accommodations.
ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behavior in all
aspects of the learning process. Academic credentials you earn are rooted
in principles of honesty and academic integrity.
Academic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that
results or could result in unearned academic credit or advantage. This behavior can result in serious
consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a
notation on the transcript (notation reads: “Grade of F assigned for academic
dishonesty”), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic
dishonesty. For information
on the various types of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy,
located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity
The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
1.Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for
which other credit has been obtained.
2.Improper collaboration in group work.
3.Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.
AVENUE TO LEARN:
In this course we will be using Avenue
to Learn. Students
should be aware that, when they access the electronic components of this
course, private information such as first and last names, user names for the
McMaster e-mail accounts, and program affiliation may become apparent to all
other students in the same course. The
available information is dependent on the technology used. Continuation in this course will be
deemed consent to this disclosure. If
you have any questions or concerns about such disclosure please discuss this
with the course instructor.
SUPPORT SERVICES:
The University provides a variety of support services to help students
manage their many demands. Reference librarians can provide invaluable research
assistance. The Student Accessibility Services Centre (SAS) provides assistance
with personal as well as academic matters. MUSC B107 and http://sas.mcmaster.ca/
GRADING SCALE: The McMaster grading scale may be consulted at:
http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/calendar/2012-13/pg145.html
LECTURE SCHEDULE
& READINGS:
Sept. 6, 9, 11 Introduction:
The Issues of Early Renaissance Art in Italy
Students should begin reading Millard Meiss at this time. The Meiss text
should be read concurrently with the reserve readings below and the book should
be finished by Oct. 21.
Sept. 13, 16, 18 Early
Renaissance Humanism
Baxandall, Ch. 1., “Humanists’ Opinions and
Humanist Points of View,” pp. 1-50.
Sept. 20, 23, 25, 27, 30; The
Impact of Humanist Thought on the Visual Arts I
Oct. 2
Baxandall, Ch. 2., “The Humanists on
Painting,” pp. 51-77 only
Oct. 4, 7 The Impact of Humanist Thought on
the Visual Arts II
Baxandall, Ch. 2., “The Humanists on
Painting,” pp. 78-120 only
Oct. 9, 11 The Impact of
Humanist Thought on the Visual Arts II (continued)
Baxandall, Ch. 2., “The Humanists on Painting,”
pp. 78-120 only
Oct. 14 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING
Oct. 16 Art and the Black Death
Oct. 18 TEST: IN CLASS (30 MINS.)
Oct. 21, 23, 28 Art and the Black Death: The Problem
of Regressive Style
Millard Meiss text should be
finished by Oct. 21.
Oct. 30; Nov. 1, 4, 6, 8, 11 Siena:
Artistic Production and Patronage I
(NOTE: ASSIGNMENT DUE
IN CLASS MONDAY NOV. 11)
Maginnis, Ch. 1., “The Painter’s City,” pp.
16-44.
Maginnis, Ch. II., “The Painter’s Craft:
Conditions,” pp. 83-118.
Nov. 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25 Siena:
Artistic Production and Patronage I I
Maginnis, Ch. IV., “Painters and Projects,
Major and Minor,” pp. 119-160
Maginnis, Ch. V., “The Painter’s World,” pp.
161-190.
Nov. 27, 29 Reflections on the Histories of
Early Renaissance Art in Italy
No readings assigned
Dec. 2, 4 Review
No readings assigned
Final Exam date and location TBA
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