98786 - Text and Image in the Middle Ages (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will: know the main ways written texts were visualized through material images in the Western Middle Ages from the fourth to the fifteenth century; learn to critically analyze artworks in connection to some pivotal texts (Bible, lives of saints, liturgy, theology, classical and vernacular literature, scientific texts) and to place them in the right chronological and geographical coordinates, so as to highlight their relations with the artistic trends and the religious, political and cultural concerns of the time; gain linguistic and communication skills in the field of art history.

Course contents

The first half the course will deal with the role of crafted image in the western Middle Ages, while the second half will provide an introductory survey to the main forms of medieval manuscript illumination in Western Europe (e.g. "papyrus style"; figure, inhabited, and historiated initials; full-page miniatures and vignettes), with regards to some particularly important texts as the Bible, the liturgical and scholastic books, alongside showing the interactions with other visual media.

The following topics will be discussed in class:

• The question of images in the western Middle Ages.
  

• The awareness of the specific value of artistic work during the western Middle Ages.

• From scroll to codex: the "papyrus style".

• From scroll to codex: full-page miniatures and vignettes.

• The birth and development of the illuminated initial: decorated, zoomorphic, anthropomorphic, figure, inhabited, and historiated initials;

• Decorations in the margins.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students should prepare the following readings in addition to the notes taken in class and the lecture PPTS:

1. Baschet, Jean. 1996. "Immagine." In Enciclopedia dell'Arte Medievale, vol. 7, 335-342. Rome: Treccani. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/immagine_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Medievale%29/.

2. Pächt, Otto. 1986. Book Illumination in the Middle Ages: An Introduction (1984), English translation. London, Oxford, and New York: Harvey Miller, Oxford: Oxford University Press (and later editions).

3. One reading to be chosen between:

• De Hamel, Christopher. 1986 (and later editions). A History of Illuminated Manuscripts, Oxford: Phaidon.

• De Hamel, Christopher, 2016. Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts, London: Allen Lane.
  

• De Hamel, Christopher, 2022. The Posthumous Papers of the Manuscripts Club, London: Allen Lane.

• Toubert, Helène. 1990. "La mise en page de l’illustration." In Mise en page et mise en texte du livre manuscrit, edited by Henri-Jean Martin and Jean Vezin, 353-420. Paris: Éditions du Cercle de la Librairie-Promodis.

 

Non-attending students should also prepare as substitutive readings for the notes taken in class and the lecture PPTS the following entries of the Enciclopedia dell'Arte Medievale Treccani:

• Cecchini, Francesca. 2000. "Vangeli." In Enciclopedia dell’Arte Medievale, vol. 11, 493-505. Rome: Treccani. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/vangeli_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Medievale%29/.
• Kessler, Herbert L. 1992. "Bibbia." In Enciclopedia dell’Arte Medievale, vol. 3, 468-487, esp. 475-481. Rome: Treccani. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/bibbia_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Medievale%29/.
• Miglio, Luisa. 1996. "Illustrazione." In Enciclopedia dell’Arte Medievale, vol. 7, 328-335. Rome: Treccani. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/illustrazione_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Medievale%29/.
• Palazzo, Eric. 1996. "Libri liturgici." In Enciclopedia dell’Arte Medievale, vol. 7, 646-653. Rome: Treccani. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/libri-liturgici_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Medievale%29/.
• Freeman Sandler, Lucy. "Salterio." In Enciclopedia dell’Arte Medievale, vol. 10, 281-288, esp. 283-288. Rome: Treccani. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/salterio_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Medievale%29/.

Teaching methods

Frontal and partecipative teaching lessons, supported by PPT images, possible visits to collections in Bologna and/or other Italian cities.

Assessment methods

Oral exam: attending students should discuss one of the PPT slides presented in class without captions and examine the listed readings; non-attending students should deal with the listed readings.

Grading scale for the final mark:

• 18–19: Knowledge of a very limited number of topics covered in the course; analytical skills emerge only with the instructor’s guidance; overall correct use of language.

• 20–24: Knowledge of a limited number of topics covered in the course; independent analytical skills demonstrated only in purely procedural matters; correct use of language.

• 25–29: Knowledge of a broad range of topics covered in the course; ability to make independent critical analyses; solid command of subject-specific terminology.

• 30–30L: Substantially comprehensive knowledge of the topics covered in the course; ability to make independent critical analyses and connections; full command of subject-specific terminology and strong skills in argumentation and self-reflection.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

PPT presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Gianluca Del Monaco