90610 - Sculpture in Modern Age (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will possess historical and artistic knowledge of themes, exponents and historical events in European sculpture from the 16th to the 19th Century. In particular students will master the tools and skills to read the artworks from a formal, stylistic, iconographic, and technical point of view, and will be able to understand the relationship between the historical, social, religious and cultural context in which it was produced.

Course contents

The Exam Modern Art B is composed of two courses: Sculpture in the Early Modern Period (prof. Bacchi) and Comparative History of European Arts in the Modern Age (prof. Graziani). Modern Art B is an integrated exam of 12 CFU (6 CFU+6 CFU) and the verification and evaluation of the preparation follow the procedures laid down for an integrated exam, i.e. they must be taken in the same session and the students must therefore register simultaneously for both exams.

The course Sculpture in the Early Modern Period will analyze the main moments in the history of sculpture in Italy starting from Michelangelo and up to Bernini

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

Both students who will attend classes and students who will not attend classes can choose one of the following two readings

Joachim Poeschke, Michelangelo and his world, Abrams, New York 1996

John Pope-Hennessy, La scultura italiana. Il Cinquecento e il Barocco, 2 tomi, Feltrinelli, Milano 1966 (primo tomo, pp. 1-108, secondo tomo, pp. 302-435)

Both students who will attend classes and students who will not attend classescan choose one of the two goups of three readings listed below:

Group 1

R. Wittkower, Arte e architettura in Italia. 1600-1750 (1958), Einaudi, Torino 1993 (only the chapters about sculpture)

Bruce Boucher, Italian Baroque Sculpture, Thames and Hudson, London 1998

Jennifer Montagu, La scultura barocca romana. Un industria dell’arte, Allemandi, Torino 1991, pp. 1-150, 198-212.

Group 2

Antonia Nava Cellini, La scultura del Seicento, UTET, Torino 1982

Antonia Nava Cellini, La scultura del Settecento, UTET, Torino 1982

Jennifer Montagu, La scultura barocca romana. Un industria dell’arte, Allemandi, Torino 1991, pp. 1-150, 198-212.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures with the help of image projection.

Assessment methods

The final exam will be held in the form of an interview. It will focus on the texts indicated in the bibliography and will develop from the analysis of some images, subject of the course, to evaluate the acquisition of the fundamentals related to the topics discussed and the critical and methodological skills developed by the student. Particular attention should therefore be paid to teaching materials downloadable on AMS Campus integrating the bibliography.

The achievement of an organic vision of the themes addressed, the possession of a mastery of expression and specific language, the originality of reflection as well as familiarity with the tools of analysis of medieval and modern art will be assessed with marks of excellence. A largely mechanical or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, an unarticulated ability to synthesise and analyse or language that is correct but not always appropriate, as well as a scholastic grasp of the history of the themes addressed in the programme will lead to fair marks. Formative deficiencies or inappropriate language, as well as a lack of knowledge of the tools for analysing works of art will lead to marks that are on the threshold of sufficiency. Formative deficiencies, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliography as well as an inability to analyse the themes of the course will only result in negative marks.


The method of examination described is the same for attending and non-attending students.

During the academic year 2025/26, exams are scheduled for the following months:

November 2025

January 2026

March 2026

May 2026

June 2026

July 2026

September 2026

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Frontal lectures with the help of image projection.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Bacchi