93245 - Basics of Islamic Art History (1)

Learning outcomes

By attending this course, the student will gain a sound knowledge of the main artistic themes related to the Islamic world throughout its various geographical regions. S/he will be able to analyse Islamic artefacts with the appropriate language and terminology.

Course contents

THE COURSE WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2022

 

Moving from the Umayyad period up to the three empires of the early modern era, the course surveys the main themes of Islamic art. Seminars focus on both the regional and dynastic differences as well as the unifying features of Islamic art.

1. Umayyad architecture
2. Abbasid architecture
3. Objects and calligraphy from the early Islamic period
4. Seljuk architecture
5. Fatimid architecture
6. Islamic art and architecture under the Normans
   
7. Islamic objects from the medieval period
   
8. Architecture from Central Asia
9. Mamluk architecture
   
10. Islamic architecture of the Western Mediterranean
    
11. Islamic artworks of the late medieval period
    
12. Ottoman art and architecture
13. Safavid art and architecture
14. Moghul art and architecture
15. Islamic art museums

Readings/Bibliography

M. Hattstein and P. Delius, Islam: Arte e Architettura, Konemann 2001.

Texts in English are also available (please contact the lecturer).

Teaching methods

Each seminar is subdivided into two sections. A first part consists of a collective discussion on the technical terms of islamic art and architecture and the historical outline of dynasties. A second part consists of a frontal lecture by the lecturer.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

The oral exam consists of a first general question devoted to the main artistic features of a specific dynasty or period and of a second one focused on one specific object or architectur discussed during the course.

In the oral exam the student will be assessed according to the:

• Capacity of the student to orintate him/herself within the vast chronology and geography covered during the course;
• Command of the specific language and terminology of the subject;
• Ability in connecting different works on a comparative perspective.

27-30 e lode: an excellent command of the technical language of the subject and an all-around knowledge of the themes of the course shown during the oral exam.

23-26: a correct technical language and an accurate exposition of the subject of the course shown during the oral exam.

18-22: some inadequacies in the use of the technical language and a superficial exposition of the subject of the course shown during the oral exam.

Failure: very poor exposition of the subject of the course shown during the oral exam.

 

Contents of the exam for those students who do not attend the course:

1) Discussion of an essay (of around 3000 words) devoted to a topic related to Islamic art.

2) Two questions on topics related to the history of Islamic art.

Details:

1) The student selects a theme and sends an outline of the essay together with a preliminary bibliography to the professor by email. Once the theme is approved, the student writes the essay and sends it to the professor at least one week before the date of the exam.

2) to prepare the two questions related to the history of Islamic art, the student is invited to read the bibliography listed in the above section "readings/bibliography"

Teaching tools

All seminar Powerpoint presentations will be made available through the e-learning platform (Virtuale). Also extra reading on specific themes will be upoaded on Virtuale. The student is expected to consult the Virtuale page of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Mattia Guidetti