27154 - Art Seminar (1) (G.A)

Learning outcomes

Art seminars complement the traditional academic courses.

By the end of this seminar students will:

- Know and understand some relevant historical, analytical and conceptual aspects of the Arts

- Master the fundamentals of methodologies developed in different fields of art research

Course contents

TOOLS AND METHODS OF THE HISTORY OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE. THE CASE OF BOLOGNA AND THE BENTIVOGLIO

The seminar is scheduled on the first five weeks of the second period, first semester in a block of 30 hours divided in two hours class, three times a week, corresponding to 6 CFU. Lectures are hold both in class and outdoor and are mainly based upon students groups in class presentation and discussion.

The seminar seeks to expose students to the methods, tools and goals of Renaissance history of architecture focusing on a selection of buildings built during the period Bologna was ruled by the Bentivoglio family. The seminar is organized and relies on students’ constant and active participation.

The following are the aspects each group has to deal with:

1. Bibliographic research
2. A quick archival research to verify original documents found in the bibliography
3. On site presentation of the building
4. Final presentation

Suggested research topics:

*Each group is encouraged to propose buildings they are particularely interested.

• Casa Tacconi, già Bovi-Silvestri
• Palazzo Bolognini
• Palazzo dei Drappieri
• San Giovanni in Monte
• Oratorio dello Spirito Santo
• San Giacomo Maggiore, portico
• Cappella Bentivoglio in San Giacomo Maggiore
• Palazzo Sanuti Bevilacqua
• Portico del Baraccano
• Porta Zamboni, già San Donato
• Madonna di Galliera
• Palazzo del Podestà
• Palazzo Ghisilardi
• Palazzo Felicini, già Pallavicini

In order not to disturb the instructor and the students is strictly required to take a seat in the classroom before the beginning of class (10 minutes on the dot after the hour). It is a good manner not to bring any kind of food in class and eating during the lesson. I am fully available and happy to answer to any question you might have during and after class. A good grade also depends on a regular presence in class and on a active participation.

Syllabus

First week: Introdution

Lesson one – Introductory lesson on Bologna in the Renaissance. Seminar organization

Lesson two – Lesson on Historiography. Group formation and topic assignment

Lesson three – Visit of some selected monuments. Learning to “see” and criteria of analisys on site

Second week. Bibliography/Patronage

Lesson four – Student presentation

Lesson five – Student presentation

Lesson six - Student presentation

Third week. Archival research

Lesson seven – Student presentation

Lesson eight - Student presentation

Lesson nine - Student presentation

Fourth week: The building

Lesson ten - Student presentation

Lesson eleven - Student presentation

Lesson twelve - Student presentation

Fifth week: Final presentation

Lesson thirteen - Student presentation

Lesson fourteen - Student presentation

Lesson fifteen - Student presentation

Readings/Bibliography

In addition to the treatises in the syllabus, all available online in fac-simile and PDF, the following bibliography is recommended.

P.N. Pagliara, Vitruvio da testo a canone, in memoria dell’antico nell’arte italiana. III Dalla tradizione all’archeologia, a cura di S. Settis, Torino 1986, pp. 3-85.

H.W. Kruft, Storia delle teorie architettoniche, Roma Bari 1999, pp. 3-106.

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 2002, pp. 504-521

A.A.V.V., Teoria dell’architettura, Köln, London 2003, pp. 8-117

Teaching methods

Lectures, visits to the rare book collection of Archiginnasio and the University Library, class presentations and discussion of the groups’ works.

Assessment methods

Students will be evaluated considering the weekly class presentations and the quality of paragraphs to be written each week. Both in the presentation and in the essay, students are required to demonstrate the acquisition and possession of the fundamentals of the topics treated and of the methodological approach adopted.

Final assessment criteria:

This seminar is not valid in order to obtain credits, it provides a passed/fail grade. To pass it, students are required to present the research results with their group each week, actively participate in class discussion and write the part of the essay assigned.

Teaching tools

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

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Benelli