30341 - Archaeology and History of Ravenna and Byzantine Art (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students should

-have gained a deep understanding of the ideological circumstances and main issues concerning  the monuments of Ravenna and the cultural areas connected, both in the West and in the Near East, showing a broad  knowledge of architectural and sculptural evidence and mosaic decorations as well, between the 5th and the 12th centuries;

- be able to undertake research on the topics dealt with, discuss and explain the outcomes.

 

Course contents

The 12 credits  course consists of  two units;  the first will outline the origin and development of  Palaeo-Christian/Byzantine wall mosaics between the 4th and 6th centuries CE. The second unit will provide an insight into the reign of Justinian  at Ravenna and in the Byzantine area.

1. Wall mosaics between Rome and Ravenna (4th -6th century ): issues and aspects of the Byzantine artistic culture.

II. The golden age of Justinian at Ravenna and in other imperial centers: religious building, mosaic decorations, sculpture, luxury items.

After a preliminary overview of the Byzantine aesthetics, the first unit of the course will focus on the origin and development of  Palaeo-Christian/Byzantine wall mosaics between the 4th and 6th centuries CE, examining the evidence from the major artistic centers of the empire: Rome and Ravenna. Iconographic and stylistic aspects of  mosaic decorations will be investigated  within the period, emphasizing Byzantine aesthetics as well as the monumental and ideological context.

The second unit of the course will explore the effects of the Justinian rule at Ravenna and in some of the most important centers of the Empire, such as Costantinople, Porec, Cyprus, the Sinai, examining important monumental evidence, mosaics and sculptures, liturgical furnishings and precious ivory works (as, for instance, the Cathedra of Maximian).

A. Taught Integrative Seminars (to be defined).

B. Study tour to visit some of the monuments examined

N.B . This program is worth 12 credits (LM in Archeologia e CMA). Students from other courses taking the 6 credits course will choose between the 1st or 2nd  unit.

Students will have to submit a short, written work, in the form of an essay or a book/article review. To prepare for the exam students will be asked to take notes in lectures and read the literature suggested for each subject dealt with, while distance learning students will have additional reading work, suggested by the lecturer.  

3rd-4th term - the module will start 6 February 2012,  11 am

Teaching Timetable : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 11 am -01 pm (Department of Archaeology, P.zza S.Giovanni in Monte 2-Bologna,ground floor, room 2)

 

Readings/Bibliography

Lectures' notes

I. V. Lazarev, Storia della pittura bizantina, Torino 1967, pp. 7-29; oppure:T. Velmans-V. Korac- M. Šuput, Bisanzio. Lo splendore dell'arte monumentale, Milano 1999, pp.11-24.

-Roma:  G. Matthiae, Pittura romana del Medioevo, secoli IV-X, con aggiornamento scientifico e bibliografico di M. Andaloro, Roma 1988, pp. 31-83;per ulteriori approfondimenti sui singoli mosaici (almeno tre a scelta): M.Andaloro,L'orizzonte tardoantico e le nuove immagini(312-468), Jaca Book 2006,pp.54-91;114-124-130;292-297;301-304;306-354;366-367;403-405;425-429.

-Ravenna:  C.Rizzardi, Ravenna Otto Monumenti Patrimonio dell'Umanità. L'iscrizione di Ravenna nella Word Heritage List dell'Unesco, Ravenna 2009;

C. Rizzardi, I mosaici parietali di Ravenna da Galla Placidia a Giustiniano, in C. Rizzardi (a cura di), Venezia e Bisanzio. Aspetti della cultura artistica bizantina da Ravenna a Venezia(V-XIV secolo), Istituto Veneto  di Scienze, Lettere e Arti, Venezia 2005, pp. 231-274;

C.Rizzardi,La decorazione musiva del Battistero degli Ortodossi e degli Ariani a Ravenna: alcune considerazioni, in "L'edificio battesimale in Italia. Aspetti e problemi"(Atti dell'VIII Congresso Nazionale di Archeologia Cristiana) (Genova, Sarzana, Albenga, Finale Ligure, Ventimiglia 21-26 settembre1998), Ed. All'Insegna del Giglio, Bordighera 2001, II, pp. 915-930.

II. E.Concina, Le arti di Bisanzio.Secoli VI-XVMilano 2002,pp.35-92.

-Ravenna: C.Rizzardi,I mosaici parietali di Ravenna di età giustinianea e la coeva pittura occidentale e orientale, in "S.Michele in Africisco e l'età giustinianea a Ravenna"(Atti del Convegno”la diaspora dell'arcangelo San  Michele in Africisco e l'età giustinianea”.Giornate di Studio in memoria di Giuseppe Bovini, a cura di C.Spadoni e L.Kniffitz,(Ravenna, 21-22 aprile 2005),Milano 2007,pp.83-97.

R.Farioli Campanati, Ravenna-Costantinopoli: la scultura (secc. V-VI), in Konstantinopel. Scultura bizantina dai Musei di Berlino, Ravenna 2000, pp. 19-29.

C.Rizzardi,La suppellettile liturgica a Ravenna e nella sfera bizantina tra arte,liturgia e autorappresentazione(secoli V-IX), in “Hortus Artium Medievalium"”,15,1,Zagreb-Motovun 2009, Publisher :International Research Center for Late Antiquity and Middle Ages, pp.39-54.

C.Rizzardi,Massimiano a Ravenna: la Cattedra eburnea del Museo Arcivescovile alla luce di nuove ricerche, in “Ideologie e cultura artistica tra Adriatico e Mediterraneo Orientale(IV-X secolo).Il ruolo dell'autorità ecclesiastica alla luce di nuovi scavi e ricerche”(Atti del Convegno Internazionale, Bologna 26-29 novembre 2007), a cura di R.Farioli Campanati, C.Rizzardi, P.Porta, A.Augenti,I.Baldini Lippolis, Coll.Studi e Scavi del Dipartimento di Archeologia,N.S.,19,Tarda Antichità e Medioevo, Bologna 2009,pp.229-243.

- Other centers:  C.Rizzardi, La cultura artistica a Parenzo in età giustinianea fra Ravenna e Costantinopoli: cosmopolitismo e autonomia, in "Atti e Memorie della Società Istriana di Archeologia e Storia Patria",n.8, N.S.,Trieste 2000,pp.41-70.

A.H.S. Megaw, Mosaici parietali paleobizantini di Cipro, in “Corsi di Cultura sull'Arte Ravennate e Bizantina”, XXXII, 1985, pp. 173-198.

A.Andreopoulos,The Mosaic of the Transfiguration in St.Catherine's Monastery on Mounth Sinai: a discussion of its Origins,in “Byzantion”LXXII,2002,fasc.I,pp.9-37,oppure :A. Guiglia Guidobaldi, s.v. Sinai, in Enciclopedia dell'Arte Medievale, vol. X, Roma, 1999, pp. 691-698.

 

 

 

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars and study tour to visit monuments.

Assessment methods

The oral exam will involve:

1) assessment  of knowledge acquired and of the ability to critically evaluate topics and suggested literature.

2) discussion of the written work presented

Teaching tools

Power point, computers  images and photocopies will be used in the course.

Office hours

See the website of Clementina Rizzardi