11382 - History of Medieval Art

Learning outcomes

The teaching introduces to the knowledge of European and especially Italian art between the fourth and fifteenth centuries. At the end of the course the student has the tools to read the work in terms of style and iconography, with particular attention to the historical context of reference.

Course contents

The course involves an overview of the basics of art history in Europe from the fourth to 1492.

Classes will be centered on the theme of mural decoration in painting and mosaic, analyzing the esthetic and cultural motivations of the changes happened in this field during the long course of the Middle Ages. 

This introduction to Medieval Art will be followed by a monographic part dedicated to Vitale da Bologna. He was the most talented painter of the fourteenth century in Bologna.

This monographic part will evaluate the data provided by direct and indirect sources, analyze the works of art attributed to this master in order to assess their quality and dating, the extent of their influence on the pictorial environment of Bologna, the involvement of the “botteghe” in his work, the critical discourse that regards him.

Readings/Bibliography

For the first part of the course, the reference book (specifically the chapters regarding the period between the fourth and the fifteenth century), one of the next:

• P.L. De Vecchi – E. Cerchiari, Arte nel tempo, edito da Bompiani;

• - C. Bertelli, Storia dell’arte. Edizione verde, edito da Scolastiche Bruno Mondadori;

  - N. Frapiccini, N. Giustozzi, Le storie dell’arte, edito da Hoepli Scuola;

The study of the following texts about Vitale is also required:

F. Filippini – G. Zucchini, Miniatori e pittori a Bologna. Documenti dei secoli XIII e XIV, Firenze, 1947, pp. 230-235.

D. Benati,Vitale da Bologna, in Enciclopedia dell’arte medievale, XI, Roma 2000, pp. 699-705; https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/vitale-da-bologna_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Medievale%29/

Le Madonne di Vitale: pittura e devozione a Bologna nel Trecento (catalogo della mostra (Bologna, 2010-2011), a cura di M. Medica, Ferrara 2010

D. Benati, Tra Giotto e il mondo gotico. la pittura a Bologna negli anni di Bertrando del Poggetto, in Giotto e le arti a Bologna ai tempi del cardinale Bertrando del Poggetto, a cura di M. Medica, Bologna, 2005, pp. 55-77.

A. Volpe, Mezzaratta. Vitale e gli altri pittori di una confraternita bolognese, Bologna, 2005, pp. 39-75.

the study of one of the following essays should be added.:

P. Casadio, Vitale da Bologna a Udine, in "Itinerari di Vitale da Bologna : affreschi a Udine e a Pomposa", catalogo della mostra, Bologna, 1990, pp. 49-78.

A. Volpe, Vitale a Ferrara: sventure e risarcimenti, in "Nuovi studi", 5, 1998, pp. 5-13.

G. del Monaco, Presenze trecentesche in San Martino Maggiore a Bologna: tracce dipinte di uno spazio sacro in età gotica, in Intrecci d’arte, VII (2018a), pp. 9-25; https://intreccidarte.unibo.it/article/view/8643

 

Teaching methods

if it is possible, lectures will take place in class with the aid of visual materials.

Assessment methods

The final examination will verify the fulfillment of the following learning objectives:

• knowledge of the topics and of the critical methodology discussed in class or studied in the literature;
• ability to use critical tools when examining a given image;
• ability to understand one's own critical opinion in relation to the historiographical debate. This ability is based on the assumption that our critical opinion is inevitably conditioned by our cultural views.

The exam will be exclusively in the form of an oral examination, which is evaluated in %30. It will be based on the images discussed in the books provided in the reading list or in class. Students should identify the works of art, demonstrate an understanding of their chronological, geographical and historical context, discuss their relationship with other works of art. For this reason, students are expected to bring their own books on the day of the exam.

Following the Alma Mater's guidelines, notably:

• the demonstration of an organic vision of the themes addressed in class or in books indicated in the reading list as well as of the critical use, command of oral expression and specific vocabulary, will be assessed with marks of excellence (28-30).
• mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, scarce ability of synthesis and analysis and/or the use of a correct but not always appropriate vocabulary will lead to discrete assessments (23-27).
• training gaps and/or inappropriate vocabulary - even in conjunction with a minimal knowledge of the subject - will lead to marks that will not exceed the minimum grade (18-22).
• training gaps, inappropriate vocabulary, lack of command of the bibliography discussed within the course will lead to negative evaluations.

Teaching tools

Exam materials and further readings can be found on Insegnamenti on line

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Volpe