OVERVIEW

This course will present the main types of sumptuary art created in Europe and the Mediterranean from the 5th to the 15th century. Proceeding by technique, we will complete the picture of Medieval artistic production with the category of objects forged in precious metals.  We will also analyze the context of their production, their buyers, iconography, cultural aspects related to perception, treasury and collecting.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is to analyze the wide range of Medieval applied arts from a European perspective in order to provide students with the tools to interpret its historical development, the specific techniques and types of works as well as their relation to monumental works of art.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main educational objectives of Medieval Applied Arts are:

To guide students toward recognizing the lines of development in the production of the main genres of sumptuary art from the Middle Ages. This will be done chronologically and will address various European settings with special attention paid to other cultural contexts.

To direct students to the in-depth analysis of artifacts so that they are able to analyze and discuss the technical and cultural aspects with the proper methodology in relation to the class of similar objects and the general framework of Medieval artistic production.  

To convey to students the cultural necessity to integrate these artifacts into the framework of Medieval art thus, stimulating them to think about specific issues inherent in their production and to study Medieval artistic society more comprehensively.

TEACHING METHODS

The 9 cfu course consists of 54 hours divided between in-class lectures and site visits. In class, we will use images organized by theme.

The 6 cfu course consists of 36 hours of in-class lectures where we will use images organized by theme.

The images will be made available to students at the end of the course if they come to the instructor’s office hours with a usb key.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

9 cfu course program

“Ars”. “opus” “artist”: dialectics and cultural focus

The main sumptuary techniques of the Middle Ages (tapestries, ivory, bronze and the art of fusion, miniatures, goldsmithing and jewellery-making techniques, embroidery, seals)

Gem-setting

Treasures and collecting

An exemplary artist: Theophilus and his treatise

The treasury of the Genoa Cathedral

Education and historical events

The Sacred Basin

The “Pallio di San Lorenzo” tapestry

The Plate of John the Baptist

6 cfu course program

“Ars”. “opus” “artist”: dialectics and cultural focus

The main sumptuary techniques of the Middle Ages (tapestries, ivory, bronze and the art of fusion, miniatures, goldsmithing and jewellery-making techniques, embroidery, seals)

Gem-setting

Treasures and collecting

An exemplary artist: Theophilus and his treatise

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIANLUCA AMERI (President)

CLARIO DI FABIO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

26 February 2018

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral and will include the images accompanying the textbooks and those used in class and made available to students.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will evaluate students’ ability to read and analyze the images in relation to a chronological framework, technical and stylistic aspects and the artistic culture the works come from.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Class attendance is strongly encouraged. Aside from the images, all the exam texts, except for the manual will be made available by the instructor in pdf format. The course is also active on Aulaweb.