OVERVIEW

The course illustrates the history of collecting in Italy during the modern age through the presentation of significant episodes, with particular attention to the phenomenon of collecting paintings and the relationship between different types of artefacts, such as the relationship - highlighted through some case studies - between book collecting and art collecting.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the teaching is to acquire knowledge on the phenomenon of art collecting in Italy and Europe in the period between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries and on the methods of investigation used to reconstruct its history.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students will be able to

- describe aspects of art collecting from a historical perspective
- independently collect and evaluate sources on the history of collecting

PREREQUISITES

A good knowledge of history and art history of the Modern Age is necessary to deal effectively with the teaching content.

TEACHING METHODS

Classes are face-to-face. Attendance is not compulsory but is recommended. Distance learning is not available for this course.

Students are reminded of the need to subscribe to the course Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course programme includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:

Art collecting in Italy in the Modern Age:

- Sources, tools and methods of investigation

- Analysis of case studies referring to events significant to the evolution of the phenomenon

- antiquarian collecting and collections between the 15th and 17th centuries;

- picture galleries in the Baroque age;

- 'minor' collecting in the 17th century;

- Book collections and libraries in the modern age;

- The relationship between book collecting, art collecting and artistic production in Genoa

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

C. De Benedictis, Per la storia del collezionismo italiano. Fonti e documenti, prima ed. Firenze 1991

Patrizia Cavazzini, La diffusione della pittura nella Roma di primo Seicento: collezionisti ordinari e mercanti, in “Quaderni Storici”, 2004, pp. 353-374.

M.T. Fiorio, Il museo nella storia. Dallo "studiolo" alla raccolta pubblica, Milano, Mondadori, 2011

I Segreti di un collezionista. Le straordinarie raccolte di Cassiano dal Pozzo, De Luca, Roma 2002.

S. Danesi Squarzina, Caravaggio e i Giustiniani. Toccar con mano una collezione del Seicento, Electa, Milano 2001.

G. Montanari, Libri Dipinti Statue. Rapporti e relazioni tra le raccolte librarie, il collezionismo e la produzione artistica a Genova tra XVI e XVII, GUP (Genova University Press), Genova 2015.

The bibliography is the same for both attending and non-attending students.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARIA CLELIA GALASSI (President)

GIACOMO MONTANARI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

October 4, 2023

Class schedule

L'orario di tutti gli insegnamenti è consultabile all'indirizzo EasyAcademy.

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of an oral test in which the student has to demonstrate his/her knowledge of the history of collecting and museum formation, and to critically discuss problems related to the function of the modern museum.

The examination consists of answering questions posed by the teacher on topics covered during the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will be conducted by means of an oral test that will test: the knowledge and understanding of the bibliography; the ability to make connections between the topics covered; the capacity for criticism and personal reflection.

Details of how to prepare for the exam and the level of depth required for each topic will be provided during the lectures.

The exam will verify the effective acquisition of the knowledge of  the history of the museum, from its origins to contemporary manifestations. Open questions will be used to assess the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to individual practical cases. The student should be able to critically link and explain the topics covered in the lectures. The ability to explain the topics clearly and with correct terminology will also be assessed.

The method of assessing the degree of learning achieved will take into account the following scale of values:

1. if the student demonstrates, through an expressive mastery, that he/she has a deep understanding of the texts proposed, the periodizations dealt with and the themes presented in class, with an organic vision, the exam will be graded between very good and excellent (from 28 to 30 with distinction);

2. purely mnemonic knowledge (i.e. without deep understanding), superficial analysis and correct but not always appropriate language will lead to a mark between good (25-27) and satisfactory (23-24);

3. approximate knowledge, superficial understanding and inappropriate language can be considered sufficient (18-22);

4. gaps in knowledge, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographical material and topics presented in class will be assessed negatively.

Exam schedule