31501 - Comparative History of Art in European Countries

Course contents

Works of Art and Artists on the Move in the Early Modern Period, between Italy and Europe.

This course focuses on the circulation of artists and works of art between Italy and the rest of Europe from the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. This main topic will be approached following the career of painters, sculptors and architects born in Italy and working – occasionally or for longer periods of time – within the borders of today’s France, Spain, England and Germany. Equal attention will be paid to the travels south of the Alps of artists and patrons coming from other parts of Europe, as well as to a group of works of art – either small or monumental – sent from one country to the other. These exchanges between different figurative cultures will be analysed in their implications of style and taste on artists and patrons respectively.

Readings/Bibliography

Students attending classes

1. Notes taken in class.
2. J. Shearman, Il manierismo, a cura di M. Collareta, Firenze, S.P.E.S., 1983 (or. ed.: J. Shearman, Mannerism, Harmondsworth, Penguin Books, 1967).

Studens not attending classes

1. F. Sricchia Santoro, L’arte del Cinquecento in Italia e in Europa, Milano, Jaca Book, 1998.
2. J. Shearman, Il manierismo, a cura di M. Collareta, Firenze, S.P.E.S., 1983 (ed. or.: J. Shearman, Mannerism, Harmondsworth, Penguin Books, 1967).
3. One book from the list below.

Program for 9 cfu (Students of the Scuola di Lingue e Leterature, Traduzione e Interpretazione)

Students attending classes

1. S. Settis, T. Montanari, Arte. Una storia naturale e civile, Milano, Mondadori Education: vol. 3, Dal Quattrocento alla Controriforma (tutto); vol. 4, Dal Barocco all’Impressionismo, sezioni I, II, III, IV, V
2. Notes taken in class.

Studenti non frequentanti

1. S. Settis, T. Montanari, Arte. Una storia naturale e civile, Milano, Mondadori Education: vol. 3 (Dal Quattrocento alla Controriforma) and vol. 4 (Dal Barocco all’Impressionismo, sezioni I, II, III, IV, V).
2. A. Pinelli, La bella maniera: artisti del Cinquecento tra regola e licenza, Torino, Einaudi, 2003 (ed. or. Torino, 1993).

List of texts

• M. Baxandall, Scultori in legno del Rinascimento tedesco, Torino, Einaudi, 1989 (ed. or. M. Baxandall, The limewood sculptors of Renaissance Germany, New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1980).
• L. Campbell, Renaissance Portraits: European Portrait-Painting in the 14th, 15th and 16th Centuries, New Haven - London, Yale University Press, 1990.
• Tapestry in the Renaissance. Art and Magnificence, catalogue of the exhibition (New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 12 March - 19 June 2002), ed. by T. P. Campbell, New Haven - London, Yale University Press, 2002, pp. 85-260.
• Giulio Romano. La forza delle cose, catalogue of the exhibition (Mantova, Palazzo Te, 8 October 2022 - 8 January 2023), ed. by B. Furlotti e G. Rebecchini, Venezia, Marsilio arte, 2022.
• T. Montanari, Il Barocco, Torino, Einaudi, 2012.
• Norma e capriccio. Spagnoli in Italia agli esordi della maniera moderna, catalogo della mostra (Firenze, Gallerie degli Uffizi, 5 March - 26 May 2013), ed. by T. Mozzati e A. Natali, Firenze, Giunti, 2013.
• A. Pinelli, La bella maniera: artisti del Cinquecento tra regola e licenza, Torino, Einaudi, 2003 (ed. or. Torino, 1993).

Teaching methods

Lectures, including text or image slides; possibly an on-site visit.

Assessment methods

Oral examination, based mainly on the analysis of works of art and their meaning within the framework provided by the assigned literature and/or in class.

1. Excellent grades (28-30 cum laude) will be assigned to those demonstrating: complete command of the literature and of the topics considered in class; substantial knowledge of the works of art under exam and the ability to analyse them in relation to the topics of the course; the ability to present arguments neatly and using the correct language, especially in relation to material data, geography and artistic typologies.
2. Good (25-27) to average (23-24) grades will be assigned to those demonstrating: only partial command of the literature; only partial knowledge of the works of art under exam, but a good ability to analyse them in relation to the topic of the course; the use of a language not always correct in their presentation.
3. Passing grades (18-22) will be assigned to those demonstrating: only superficial knowledge of the literature and of the works of art under exam; the use of a language scarcely correct.
4. Insufficient grades will be assigned to those demonstrating: insufficient knowledge of literature and of the works of art under exam; presenting without attention for order and correct language.

Assessment methods will be the same for students attending classes and those not attending classes.

Teaching tools

Slides will be provided to attending students. 

Office hours

See the website of Marcello Calogero