29936 - Archaeology and History of Byzantine and Ravenna's Art (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 in Occident. The second unit will provide an insight into the reign of Justinian at Ravenna and in the Byzantine area.

Issues and aspects of the byzantine artistic Culture

I.The Wall mosaic in Occident between fourth and sixth centuries.

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,Milan 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:1)Materials and techniques of wall mosaics(V-XII century);2)The architecture of Ravenna and Greece(V-VI century):problems and issues.

B. Study tour some Ravenna to visit and some islands of Greece(with support from the Faculty of Lettrs and Philosophy).

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.

1rd-2th term - the module will start1st October 2012,9 am

Teaching Timetable : Monday, Tuesday(9-11 am), Wednesday11-13 pm (Department of History and Humanities, P.zza S.Giovanni in Monte 2-Bologna,2th floor,Seminar room)

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: 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(at least three monuments).

-Milano:C.BERTELLI, La decorazione musiva a Milano dall'età paleocristiana alla carolingia, in "Pittura a Milano dall'Altomedioevo al Tardogotico" a cura di M.Gregori, Milano 1977,pp.3-14;20-24.

-Ravenna: C.Rizzardi,Il mosaico a Ravenna.Ideologia e arte,Ed.Antequem,Bologna 2011,pp.14-22;39-115.

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

-Ravenna:

C.Rizzardi, C.Rizzardi,Il mosaico a Ravenna.Ideologia e arte,Ed.Antequem,Bologna 2011,pp.22-25;pp.115-169;pp.189-195.

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,Ed.Ante Quem,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,or :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