72171 - History and Criticism of Medieval Art

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course students should be able to deal with a medieval work of art from an esthetic, stylistic and iconographic point of view. They should be aware of both the historical discourse, which is essential to an understanding of the work of art, and their own critical and historiographical opinion on the subject.

Course contents

This course provides a brief introduction to medieval figurative art, aimed at students who have already studied this subject. The lectures will focus in particular on the theme of wall decoration in painting and mosaics, exploring the aesthetic and cultural motivations behind the changes that took place in this field over the long course of the Middle Ages.

The majority of the lectures will be devoted to a study of the first generation of 14th-century painters from Rimini and their relationship with Giotto.

This was a family of painters, perhaps a single workshop comprising several individuals who worked and signed their works independently. We know of at least three brothers who were part of it: Giovanni, Giuliano and Zangolo (Gian Angelo), though we have no certainty regarding the works attributed to the latter.

Some observations on the painting techniques of the period will be based on restoration work carried out.

Readings/Bibliography

C. Volpe, La Pittura riminese del Trecento, Milano, 1965, pp. 9-21, 31-35, 62-63.

O. Delucca, I pittori riminesi nelle carte d’archivio, Rimini, 1992, pp. 45-52, 74-88, 131-138.

A. Volpe, Giotto e i riminesi, Milano, 2002.

A. Volpe, Giuliano da Rimini. Il polittico dell’Incoronazione della Vergine, Rimini, 2004, pp. 13-50

D. Benati, Il Trecento Riminese in Sant’Agostino, in Il Trecento riscoperto. Gli affreschi della chiesa di Sant’Agostino a Rimini, Milano, 2019, pp. 16-39.

D. Benati, Giovanni Rimini. Un pittore al bivio, in L’oro di Giovanni. Il restauro della Croce di Mercatello e il Trecento Riminese, cat. della mostra a cura di D. Benati e A. Giovanardi, Rimini sett.-nov- 2021, pp. 21-46.

T. Castaldi, La Croce di Giovanni da Rimini a Mercatello: una storia di difficile conservazione, in L’oro di Giovanni. Il restauro della Croce di Mercatello e il Trecento Riminese, cat. della mostra a cura di D. Benati e A. Giovanardi, Rimini sett.-nov- 2021, pp. 69-83.

A. Volpe, Intorno alle cornici di Giotto, Roma, 2021, pp. 55-61.

Teaching methods

Generally, lectures will take place in class with the aid of visual materials. Occasionally lectures may take place before the original works of art.

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 virtuale.unibo.it

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Volpe