96442 - Laboratory of Decoration and Ornament Shapes (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the laboratory the student: possesses the tools that allow him to understand the nature and aesthetic status of ornamental and decorative practices, especially between the 19th and 20th centuries; comprehends the relationship between decorative practices and the mimetic and naturalistic vocation of figuration; is able to apply the notions acquired on a broader historical-artistic perspective.

Course contents

The workshop will focus on two aspects of the decorative system in medieval painting: the frames or 'partimenti' (Vasari) of mural painting, and the initial letters and marginal decorations of illuminated manuscripts.
In particular, students will examine a case of their choice from a proposed selection concerning Italian painting and miniature art from the 11th to the 15th centuries, or examples of the revival of these late medieval forms in the 19th and 20th centuries. The students will be divided into groups for this examination.
It is strongly recommended that you have at least a basic knowledge of Western art history.

Readings/Bibliography

Please find below some useful texts to help you get started:

• De Marchi, Andrea. “Vasari e i «partimenti».” In Giorgio Vasari e il cantiere delle «Vite» del 1550, edited by Barbara Agosti, Silvia Ginzburg Carignani, and Alessandro Nova, 359–70. Venezia: Marsilio, 2013.

• Gazzillo, Agata. La miniatura in Italia tra Otto e Novecento. Ideologia e poetica di un revival. Cinisello Balsamo: Silvana, 2025.

• Pasut, Francesca. “La pittura ornamentale nel ciclo di affreschi del Maestro di San Francesco nella basilica inferiore di Assisi: prospettive critiche e primo repertorio ragionato.” In Il Maestro di San Francesco e lo Stil novo del Duecento umbro, edited by Andrea De Marchi, Veruska Picchiarelli, and Emanuele Zappasodi, 171–91. Cinisello Balsamo: Silvana, 2024.

• Riegl, Alois. Problemi di stile. Fondamenti di una storia dell’arte ornamentale. Vienna, 1893. Milano: Feltrinelli, 1963.

• Speltz, Alexander. The Styles of Ornament. Berlin, 1906. New York: Dover, 1959.

• Volpe, Alessandro. Intorno alle cornici di Giotto. Roma: Campisano, 2021.

Further reading material will be provided during the workshop itself.

Teaching methods

Lectures and laboratory sessions.

Assessment methods

The examination will consist of a group presentation on the chosen case study, which will take place at the end of the course.
Due to the bespoke nature of the workshop, places are limited to 25 participants. Please note that places on the workshop are limited and must be confirmed in advance. To reserve your place, please send an email to the lecturer's address (gianluca.delmonaco2@unibo.it) no later than the commencement of the workshop.
Attendance is mandatory (only two absences are permitted).

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

AI can be a useful tool to support independent study by providing in-depth analysis, summaries and self-assessment exercises. With regard to assessment, the use of AI is prohibited during face-to-face examinations. Any use of this material constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations, personal laptop (strongly recommended).

Office hours

See the website of Gianluca Del Monaco