96400 - Phenomenology of Medieval and Early Modern Art. Fundamentals (1) (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student: is aware of how much medieval and early-modern art is crucial to fully understand our present; is exposed to major trends of Medieval and Renaissance art practices; understands the relation between artistic styles and contemporary ideologies and technical skills within the cultural, political and social context.

Course contents

The thirty hours long course is divided in two parts. The first part includes in class lectures focused on the classical language of architecture expressed through the use of architectural order, and an outlook on ancient roman architecture, followed by a series of case studies of medieval and Renaissance architectural phenomena. The second part of the course consists of in class activities as well as walking tours among a selection of Bolognese architecture, only if COVID-19 restrictions and/or number of attendees permit.

SYLLABUS

Lesson One. 31-1-2022 – Introduction and organization of the course.

Lesson Two. 1-2-2022 – Phenomenology of the Classical Language of Architecture: The Architectural Order 

Bibliography:

J. Summerson, Il linguaggio classico dell’architettura, Einaudi, Torino 2000, pp. 3-35.

Lesson Three. 2-2-2022 – Phenomenology of Classicism. Roman Architecture

Bibliography:

D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Zanichelli, Bologna 1986, pp. 37-59.

Lesson Four. 7-2-2022 – Arnolfo di Cambio. Architecture and Sculpture

(Lecture delivered by Dr. Lorenzo Vigotti)

Bibliography:

A. Bruschi, Prima del Brunelleschi: verso un’architettura sintattica e prospettica. I. Da Arnolfo a Giotto, in L’antico, la tradizione, il moderno. Da Arnolfo a Peruzzi, saggi sull’architettura del Rinascimento, a cura di M. Ricci e P. Zampa, Electa, Milano 2004, pp. 19-47.

Lesson Five. 8-2-2022 – Giotto. Architecture and Painting

Bibliography:

A. Bruschi, Prima del Brunelleschi: verso un’architettura sintattica e prospettica. I Da Arnolfo a Giotto, in L’antico, la tradizione, il moderno. Da Arnolfo a Peruzzi, saggi sull’architettura del Rinascimento, a cura di M. Ricci e P. Zampa, Electa, Milano 2004, pp. 47-66 (on p. 66 the first paragraph only).

Lesson Six. 9-2-2022 – In class activity

Lesson Seven. 14-2-2022 - The Rediscovery of Antiquity in Florence and Rome

Bibliography:

R. Weiss, La riscoperta dell’antichità classica nel Rinascimento, Editrice Antenore, Padova 1989, pp. 67-83.

Lesson Eight. 15-2-2022 – Filippo Brunelleschi. Tradition and Innovation

Bibliography:

A. Bruschi, Brunelleschi e la nuova architettura fiorentina, in Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il Quattrocento, a cura di F.P. Fiore, Electa, Milano 1998, pp. 46-83.

Lesson Nine. 16-2-2022 - In class activity

Lesson Ten. 21-2-2022 – Leon Battista Alberti. Architecture and Humanism

Bibliography:

H. Burns, Leon Battista Alberti, in Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il Quattrocento, a cura di F.P. Fiore, Electa, Milano 1998, pp. 114-165.

Lesson Eleven. 22-2-2022 – Brunelleschi’s and Alberti’s legacy in Bologna

Bibliography:

R. Tuttle, Bologna, in Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il Quattrocento, a cura di F.P. Fiore, Electa, Milano 1998, pp. 256-271.

Lesson Twelve. 23-2-2022 - In class activity

Lesson Thirteen. 28-2-2022 – Donato Bramante. Modernly Antique

Bibliography:

W. Lotz, Bramante, in Architettura in Italia 1500-1600, a cura di D. Howard, Rizzoli, Milano 1997, pp. 11-25. 

Lesson Fourteenth. 1-3-2022 – In class Activity

Lesson Fifteenth. 2-3-2022 - Conclusion

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography

· J. Summerson, Il linguaggio classico dell’architettura, Einaudi, Torino 2000 (or any other edition)

· D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Zanichelli, Bologna 1986 (or any other edition)

· A. Bruschi, L’antico, la tradizione, il moderno. Da Arnolfo a Peruzzi, saggi sull’architettura del Rinascimento, edited by M. Ricci e P. Zampa, Electa, Milano 2004

· R. Weiss, La riscoperta dell’antichità classica nel Rinascimento, Editrice Antenore, Padova 1989

· Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il Quattrocento, edited by di F.P. Fiore, Electa, Milano 1998, pp. 46-83

· W. Lotz, Architettura in Italia 1500-1600, edited by D. Howard, Rizzoli, Milano 1997

Other articles and book chapters

· R. Wittkower, La chiesa a pianta centrale nel Rinascimento, in Principi architettonici nell’età dell’Umanesimo, Einaudi, Torino 1944, pp. 5-35 (or any other edition)

· H. Burns, Quattrocento Architecture and the Antique: Some Problems, in Classical Influences on European Culture, A.D. 500-1500, edited by R.R. Bolgar, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne 1971, pp. 269-287

· C. Thoenes, Gli ordini architettonici: rinascita o invenzione?, in C. Thoenes, Sostegno e adornamento, Electa, Milano 1998, pp. 125-133

· J. Ackerman, Le convenzioni del disegno nel tardo Gotico e nel primo Rinascimento, in J. Ackerman, Architettura e disegno. La rappresentazione da Vitruvio a Gehry, Electa, Milano 2003, pp. 45-61

· A. Nagel, C. Wood, Non-Actual Histories of Architecture, in A. Nagel, C. Wood, Anachronic Renaissance, Zone Books, New York 2010, pp. 147-158

Teaching methods

In order to be admitted to the final exam students must write a critical assessment – not a summary - of one of the five articles included in the list published in "Readings/Bibliography. Other Articles and Book Chapters". Alternatively, students can propose a topic of their choice to be approved by the instructor.

The text must be 7.000 characters long including spaces. Footnotes should not exceed 3.000 characters including spaces for a total length of 10.000 characters. In addition, the paper must include illustrations, bibliography, and if necessary the list of website citations. The paper must be submitted in PDF format at least ten days before the exam. An extra grade is granted for dealing with a non-English article. For non-attending students the number of characters of the paper doubles.

In class activity is divided in groups. Each group must prepare a PowerPoint presentation illustrating the stylistic and structural analysis of a Bolognese building selected from the list below. The presentation is not mandatory but it could raise the final grade up to two points.

List of buildings

- Church of Santo Stefano

- Church of San Petronio

- Church of San Francesco

- Re Enzo Palace

- Medieval houses with timber porticoes

- Civic towers

- Church of San Giacomo Maggiore

- Bolognini Palace

- Drappieri Palace

- Church of San Giovanni in Monte

- Bentivoglio Chapel in the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore

- Sanuti Bevilacqua Palace

- Portico of Baraccano

- Church of Madonna di Galliera

- Podestà Palace

 

 

Assessment methods

The final oral exam is based upon the discussion of the paper and on a couple of random questions selected from the topics included in the syllabus as well as in class discussion. For this reason, class attendance is strongly recommended.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Benelli