78047 - History of Medieval and Modern Architecture (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will:

- know the general issues of the medieval and early-modern history of architecture;

- identify, contextualize from an historic point of view, and critically evaluate the major architectures of the time considered;

- distinguish the major formal and structural features of architectural works;

- compare architecture with other artistic disciplines

Course contents

The goal of this course is to provide students of a basic knowledge of western pre-modern architecture, from the Hellenistic period to the architecture of the French Revolution. Through the analysis of a selection of paradigmatic buildings of different historical periods, it will be possible to understand how architecture materializes and fulfills the human needs across time.

Syllabus

Class starts ten minutes after the hour and ends five minutes before the hour.

Lesson I:

Introduction to the topics, organisation and requirements

Lesson II:

The notion of “architectural order” through the centuries

• Bibliography: J. Summerson, Il linguaggio classico dell’architettura, Torino, Einaudi 2000 (or any other reprint or edition). Chapters of this book should be read through the course, according to the period dealt in class.

Lesson III:

Hellenistic Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 3-21
  

Lesson IV:

 Roman Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 35-66
  

Lesson V:

Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 67-86.

Lesson VI:

Medieval and Romanesque Architecture

• Bibliography D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 87-91, 95-101, 108-124

Lesson VII:

Gothic Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 125-141, 146-147, 170-177

Lesson VIII:

Italian Renaissance Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 185-223

Lesson IX:

Medieval and Renaissance Bolognese Architecture

• Bibliography: R. Tuttle, Bologna, in Storia dell'architettura italiana. Il Quattrocento, Milano, Electa 1998, pp. 256-271.

Lesson X:

European Renaissance Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 224-252
• Deadline and submission pf the third drawing assignment: “San Petronio”

Lesson XI:

Baroque Architecture in Italy

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 253-298, 300-312

Lesson XII: 

Baroque Architecture in Europe

•  Bibliografia: D. Watkin, Storia dell'architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 300-312, 315-336

Lesson XIII:

Neoclassic Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 337-362, 375-382, 404-409

Lesson XIV:

Renaissance Architectural Treatises. The birth of a literay genre

• Bibliography: F.P. Fiore, Trattati e teorie d'architettura del primo Cinquecento, in Storia dell'architettura italiana. Il primo Cinquecento, a cura di A. Bruschi, Milano, Electa 2002, pp. 504-521

Lesson XV:

Conclusions

Readings/Bibliography

David Watkin, A History of Western Architecture, Barnes & Nobles Inc., New York, 1986 or any other edition

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of an interview and it will be the same for all the students (attending or not) to assess whether students have acquired critical and methodological skills. It will be based on the texts recommended in the bibliography. Non-attending students are required to write a 16.000 characters long essay on a topic of the syllabus to be approved by the teacher and submitted in PDF seven days before the exam. Students are expected to show the acquisition and possession of the fundamentals of the topics dealt with and of the methodological approach adopted, even by recognising buildings by images. In this regard, students are recommended to focus on the iconographic documentation of the exam texts and on the teaching material provided, also available for downloading

Grades breakdown for the oral examination

1. It will be graded as excellent the performance of those students demonstrating to be able to thoroughly analyse the texts and to put them into an organic view of the topics discussed during the course. The proper use of the specific language during the examination will be also essential.

2. It will be graded as discrete the performance of those students with mostly mnemonic knowledge, no in-depth analysis capabilities and a correct, but not always appropriate, language of the recommended texts.

3. It will be graded as barely sufficient the performance of those students with approximate knowledge, superficial understanding, poor analytical capabilities and a not always appropriate language.

4. It will be graded as insufficient the performance of those students with learning gaps, inappropriate language, no orientation within the recommended bibliography.

Teaching tools

Various audiovisual tools (audio CDs, image projections and digital movies).

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Benelli