21680 - History of Art Techniques

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have a deep knowledge of the different executive techniques of works of art, the cultural foundations to be able to proceed with any restoration. Through the study of the evolution over time of several art techniques, the student, will investigate the relationships beetween the history of the taste and the history of restoration. In particular, the student will be able to determine what materials are used for the realization of the support and the image of work of art, the first step to determine the conditions of conservation.

Course contents

The course, which aims to provide the opportunity to study and learn about the history of artistic techniques through the study of ancient literature and sources of direct observation of several case studies, will focus in particular on the noblest of Italian pictorial practices, the "fresco". An incredible journey through two millennia of history of frescoes will start from the Roman wall paintings at Pompei and Ercolano, will continue with the Byzantine churches of Puglia, and then again with the investigation into the practice used by the great masters of the Fourteenth century, of the Renaissance and of modern age. Particular attention will be placed on the study of the relationship between sinopia and frescoes, between preparatory drawing and final execution on the wet plaster. A journey through two thousand years of Italian art history that will touch the most important italian masters of the "great and long age of fresco". Students will have the opportunity to study the works of art thanks to the photos taken in important historic sites. In the sixteen hours passed in the lab, students will be able to study walls and frescoes according to an empirical approach that will allow the knowledge of the different pigments and binders (and of the different techniques and styles). Wide space will also be devoted to the research of sculptural technique, with special attention to the art of modeling "terracotta", the favorite material of the Emilian tradition.

Readings/Bibliography

Istitutional: PLINIO IL VECCHIO, Naturalis historia, ed. cons. Storia delle arti antiche, libri XXXIV-XXXVI, BUR, Milano, 2000; C. CENNINI, Il libro dell'arte, a cura di F. Brunello, Neri Pozza, Vicenza 1997; G. VASARI, Le vite dei più eccellenti pitturi, scultori et architettori, Firenze 1568, ed cons., Einaudi, Torino, 1995, solo introduzione Vol. I; F. NEGRI ARNOLDI, Il mestiere dell'arte. Introduzione alla storia delle tecniche artistiche, Napoli, Paparo Edizioni, 2001; N. BEVILACQUA, I pigmenti nell’arte dalla preistoria alla rivoluzione industriale, Padova 2010; S. RINALDI, Storia tecnica dell’arte. Materiali e metodi della pittura e della scultura (secc. V-XIX), Roma 2011; Le tecniche artistiche, a cura di C. MALTESE, ed. cons. U. Mursia, 2014.

Monographic: U. PROCACCI, Sinopie e affreschi, Milano 1960; U. PROCACCI, La tecnica degli antichi affreschi e il loro distacco e restauro, Firenze 1958; R. PANICHI, La tecnica dell'arte negli scritti di Giorgio Vasari, Firenze 1991; P. e L. MORA, P. PHILIPPOT, La conservazione delle pitture murali, ICCROM, Bologna 1999; Tecnica e stile: esempi di pittura murale del Rinascimento italiano, a cura di E. BORSOOK, F. SUPERBI GIOFFREDI, Cinisello Balsamo, 1986; P. D’ALCONZO, Picturae excisae. Conservazione e restauro dei dipinti ercolanesi tra XVIII e XIX secolo, Napoli 2002; B. ZANARDI, Giotto e Pietro Cavallini. La questione di Assisi e il cantiere medievale della pittura a fresco, Milano 2002; Emozioni in terracotta. Guido Mazzoni, Antonio Begarelli. Sculture del Rinascimento emiliano, catalogo delle mostra acura di G. BONSANTI, F. PICCININI, Modena 2009; L. VLAD BORRELLI, La pittura murale nell’antichità. Storia, tecniche, conservazione, Roma 2015.

Teaching methods

During the lessons the professor will show slides to the students to introduce them to the visul knowledge of the works of art. Lectures will be complemented by visits to museums and art galleries and public or private laboratories of restoration.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of an interview in order to check the understanding of the topics discussed in the lectures and the texts in program by the student (divided in two parts, institutional and monographic).

Teaching tools

Slides

Office hours

See the website of Luca Ciancabilla