ART HISTORY

Professor Long; Assistant Professors Hargrove, Warden

The goal of Art History is to connect historical events and human experiences with visual expression.The major begins with a required 2-semester general survey, moves to period- specific surveys, advances to specialized lecture/discussion classes within periods, and culminates in seminars.This sequence of courses allows students to develop their mastery of subject matter — objects, artists, and ideas — while at the same time building their skills at interpreting, assessing, and explaining that subject matter and the methodologies for its study.

Students planning to go on to graduate school are urged to study at least one foreign language (preferably German) through the intermediate level.

Art History Major

A major in art history requires the completion of ten units. These include:

ARTH 146 Survey of Art History I: Prehistoric through Medieval

ARTH 156 Survey of Art History II: Renaissance through Modern

Three, 200-level Art History classes with one from each of the following areas: Ancient/Medieval; Renaissance/Baroque; 18th-/19th-20th-century European or American Art

Two Art History classes at or above the 300 level

ARTH 456 Research Seminar in Art History

Two electives: Electives may come from art history or from courses in another major that have been approved by the art history faculty

Art History Minor

The minor in Art History is designed to give students a general experience of both the content and methods of art history. A minor in art history requires the completion of six units, including:

ARTH 146 Survey of Art History I: Prehistoric through Medieval

ARTH 156 Survey of Art History II: Renaissance through Modern

Two, 200-level Art History classes, from different areas: Ancient/Medieval; Renaissance/Baroque; 18th-/19th-/20th- century European or American Art

One Art History class at or above the 300 level

One elective: Electives may come from art history or from courses in another major that have been approved by the art history faculty.

146 Survey of Art History I: Prehistoric through Medieval
A survey of representative monuments of painting, sculpture, architecture, and the crafts from ancient times through the medieval period. Non-Western art and culture will be paralleled where appropriate.The works of art will be considered in terms of their historical context, and ways of understanding visual evidence will be proposed. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.

156 Survey of Art History II: Renaissance through Modern
A survey of representative monuments of painting, sculpture, architecture, and the crafts from the Renaissance through the modern period. Non-Western art and culture will be paral- leled where appropriate.The works of art will be considered in terms of their historical context, and ways of understanding visual evidence will be proposed. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: ARTH 146 or permission.

218 Introduction to Archaeology
An introduction to the theories and methods used by archaeologists to reconstruct the cultural practices of past human societies, from religion and authority to domestic life and trade. Case studies introduce students to archaeological sites in places such as Egypt, Greece, Mesoamerica, and North America. (Cross-listed as ANTH 218/HIST 218) (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.

226 Greek and Roman Art
An examination of the major works of art produced during the ancient Greek and Roman periods. Aspects of Greek and Roman thought, politics, religion, and patronage will be explored to explain the functions, styles, and themes of the art of these cultures.(1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.

236 Medieval Art
An exploration of the art produced in Europe from the 4th to the 14th centuries.The class will examine how visual culture reflects the political, social, and religious needs of different communities throughout the period. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.

246 Italian Renaissance Art
The study of Italian art from Giotto to Michelangelo.Aspects of Italian Renaissance culture and patronage will be explored in order to explain the styles and themes of the period.Where appropriate, the accomplishments of Northern Renaissance artists will be introduced. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.

256 Baroque Art
An examination of the major monuments of European art produced between 1600 and 1700. Aspects of Baroque culture and patronage will be explored in order to explain the styles and themes of the period. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.

266 18th Century European Art
This course focuses on the major artists, art works, and art historical ideas of Europe between roughly 1700-1789 and covers artistic styles from the late Baroque to Rococo to early Neo-Classicism. Watteau, Fragonard, Canaletto, Hogarth, and Gainsborough are some of the artists studied. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.

276 The Arts of the United States
A historical and conceptual survey investigating American architecture, painting, crafts, and sculptures. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.

286 19th-Century European Art
An examination of the major movements in European art from Neoclassicism to Post-Impressionism (1789-1900), including artists such as Jacques-Louis David, Francisco Goya, Caspar David Friedrich, Eugene Delacroix, JMW turner, Edouard Manet,Vincent van Gogh, and Auguste Rodin. Artworks are discussed within cultural, political, and critical contexts with an eye to formal innovation and the emerging concept of “modernity.” (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3hrs/wk.

291 Special Topics in Art History
Selected studies in specialized art history areas. May be repeated for credit. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Permission.

296 20th-Century Art and Architecture
An analysis of the main schools of modern art and architecture in Europe and America from the opening of the century to the 1980s.The various works of art will be approached in terms of cultural and critical contexts. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.

336 Issues in Medieval Art An examination of issues important to the period.Topics vary. May be repeated for credit. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite:ARTH 146 or permission.

343 Early Netherlandish Painting
Robert Campin, Jan van Eyck, and Rogier van der Weyden set the tone for the art of the Netherlands in the fifteenth century. This class will study each artist’s oeuvre and how it reflected contemporary concerns, particularly the interrelationship between the historical context, religious life, and social standing of the artists who made the paintings and the patrons who commissioned and used them. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Pre-requisite:ARTH 146 or permission.

346 Issues in Renaissance Art
An examination of issues important to the period.Topics vary. May be repeated for credit. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite:ARTH 146 or permission.

348 Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael
In the 21st century, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael are considered the three artistic geniuses of Italian Renaissance Art. This class will study each artist’s oeuvre and how it reflected contemporary concerns, examine the interdependence of career and biography, and consider notions of genius in the study of art. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Pre-requisite:ARTH 146 or permission.

353 The Dutch Golden Age: Rembrandt and Vermeer
Rembrandt andVermeer are among the most popular “Old Master” painters. Exhibitions of their works and movies and books about their lives attract huge audiences.This course explores the oeuvres of these two painters, comparing what we know (and want to know) about them as art historians with how they have been seen by non-scholars in the past twenty- five years. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Pre-requisite:ARTH 146 or permission.

356 Issues in Baroque Art
An examination of issues important to the period.Topics vary. May be repeated for credit. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: ARTH 156 or permission.

381 Romanticism
An examination of European Art from 1795-1848, focusing on the cultural concept of Romanticism, which is a broad per- spective characterized by drama, tension and exoticism. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Pre-requisite:ARTH 156 or permission.

386 Issues in Modern Art
An examination of issues important to the period. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite:ARTH 156 or permission of the instructor.

388: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
Explores in detail the work of major figures in French Art dur- ing the second half of the 19th century, including: Monet, Degas,Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne. (1)
Lecture/Discussion: 3 hrs/wk.
Pre-requisite:ARTH 156 or permission.

391 Special Topics in Art History Selected studies in specialized art history areas. May be repeated for credit. (1)
Lecture: hours vary.
Prerequisite: Permission.

406 Independent Study and Research
A program of advanced intensive study and experience in art history under the guidance of the art history staff. (1)
Prerequisite: Permission and submission of a written proposal, follow- ing departmental guidelines.

416 Art Internship
Practical experience working in or with artistic organization as participant-observer, leading to the preparation of a report which describes and evaluates that organization’s activities. (1)
Hours vary.
Prerequisite: Permission and submission of a written proposal, follow- ing departmental guidelines.

456 Research Seminar in Art History
A seminar approach to selected topics for advanced students. Topics vary. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

495, 496, 497 Honors Project
A program of independent study culminating in the public presentation of a paper. (1/2, 1, 1/2)
Prerequisites:To qualify for consideration to receive honors in the major, a student, in the senior year or in the Summer prior to the senior year, must work under the guidance of a faculty committee.A written proposal and application must be approved by the committee and department. A minimum GPA of 3.4 in the major is required. 495 Honors Project is prerequisite for 497 Honors Project.