AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to analyze the wide range of medieval applied arts from a European perspective, so as to provide the tools to read their historical development, their technical and typological peculiarities, and their relationship with the monumental arts.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The fundamental educational aims of the course are:

guiding student to learn the lines of development in the production of the main genres of sumptuary arts in the Medieval age, on a chronological basis and in different European contexts, with a relevant focus on other cultural realities; 

direct students to critically investigate artifacts, so that they can analyse and discuss technical and cultural aspects with the correct methodologies, in relation to the calss of similar objects and the general framework of Medieval artistic production;

convey to students the cultural necessity of integrating these artifacts into the frame of Medieval art, and consequently, stimulate them to consider the specific problems inherent to their production, in order to study the artistic civilisation of the Middle Ages more comprehensively.

By the end of the course, students will have understood the production methods of medieval European sumptuary works of art, their function, their symbolic role and their position in the "art system" of the period. 

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of 40 hours of live teaching. 

Classes are held in person. Attendance, although not compulsory, is recommended. The lecturer, at the specific request of a student (by e-mail), may allow him/her to follow classes remotely via “Teams” platform.

All the materials used (texts and images) will be made available to students. It can be acquired at the end of the course, either by sending online or by going - with a usb memory stick - to the teacher's office during his office hours (by appointment).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The main sumptuary techniques of the European Middle Ages (Tapestries, Ivory carving, Miniature, Goldsmithing and goldsmithing techniques, Embroidery, Seal making);

Forms and types of Medieval furnishing;

The glyptic;

The book illumination: the techniques; book illumination in late antiquity and high middle ages.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

– Arti e storia nel Medioevo. II. Del costruire, a cura di E. Castelnuovo, G. Sergi, Einaudi, Torino 2003 (voci Arazzi, Avori, Miniatura, Oreficeria e tecniche orafe, Ricami, Sigilli);

– V. Elbern, Gemma, in Enciclopedia dell'Arte medievale, vol. VI, Treccani, Roma 1995, pp. 483-488 (anche online: https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/gemma_%28Enciclopedia-dell%27-Arte-Medievale%29/).

– M. Collareta, Arredi, suppellettili, decorazioni mobili, in Arti e storia del Medioevo. Vol. II. Del costruire: tecniche, artisti, artigiani, committenti, a cura di E. Castelnuovo, G. Sergi, Einaudi, Torino 2003, pp. 303-328.

La miniatura in Italia. Dal Tardoantico al Trecento con riferimenti al Medio Oriente e all'Occidente europeo, a cura di A. Putaturo Donati Murano, A. Perriccioli Saggese, vol. I, ESI, Napoli 2005, pp. 13-19, 37-57.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CLARIO DI FABIO (President)

GIANLUCA AMERI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will start on September 30, 2024.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

For attending students, there is the possibility of taking an intermediate test at the end of the course, consisting of recognition of images presented in class on a part of the syllabus indicated by the lecturer. The remaining part will be brought to the oral examination. The final grade will be determined by the average of the grades on the two tests. Attending students may, alternatively, bring the entire program in the scheduled exam dates; the exam will be oral and will be conducted in Italian, in the form of an interview on at least four exemplifications pertaining to course topics, both general and more specific, starting with related questions from the lecturer on the images commented on in class and on the texts in the program. Non-attending students may take the exam in this mode only, agreeing beforehand with the lecturer on a specific program.

*Students with disabilities or learning disorders.*

Students with disabilities or learning disorders are entitled specific adjustments, provided they upload the relevant certifications and documents
on the University's dedicated webpage. See http://servizionline.unige.it under rubric 'Students'. The documents will be validated by the relevant office within the University (*Settore servizi per l’inclusione degli studenti con disabilità e con DSA dell’Ateneo)* (
https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111).

At least 10 days before the exam, students will have to email the professor, Cc'ing the aforementioned office, as well as the School's
deputy for matters concerning students with disabilities and learning disorders (elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it). Please specify the following in
your email: 

- name, surname, student number
- course name and number
- date of your exam
- adjustments required

Once the School's representative confirms your eligibility, you will liaise with your professor to finalize the details. The final decision on what
adjustments are acceptable rests with your professor.

Please note that any request must be sent *at least 10 days before your exam,* to successfully complete the process in time. Please also note that the mind maps to be used on the day of your exam have to be significantly more concise than those you use when you study.

For further information, please see:
 https://urlsand.esvalabs.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Funige.it%2Fsites%2Funige.it%2Ffiles%2F2024-05%2FLinee%2520guida%2520per%2520la%2520richiesta%2520di%2520servizi%252C%2520di%2520strumenti%2520compensativi%2520e_o%2520di%2520misure%2520dispensative%2520e%2520di%2520ausili%2520specifici%2520Maggio%25202024.pdf&e=ed7a584b&h=c6c72b42&f=y&p=y
 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination will test the student's ability to apply the knowledge learnt, to analyse the materials taught, to understand their characteristics in artistic and cultural terms, and to make connections and comparisons through the use of the concept and terms proper to the discipline. 

The main assessment parameters will be the degree of understanding of the materials taught (texts and images), the way in which categories or individual works are analysed, the ability to deal with the topic studied with an autonomous critical sense, and the appropriateness of exposition.

A sufficiency is considered to be achieved if the student demonstrates that he/she has mastered the fundamental notions conveyed during the course with regard to the main production processes of sumptuary works of art and their historical development, also in relation to the core works and general periodisation.

Excellence will be deemed to have been achieved if the student demonstrates a secure mastery of the syllabus outlined in class, showing that he/she has deepened and elaborated on the themes of the course with a personal critical contribution, argued with a proper language.  

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

It is strongly recommnded to attend the lessons. 

All materials used at lessons will be provided by the teacher on Aulaweb.

Non-attendant students will contact the teacher to fix a specific syllabus.