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Renaissance History and Art
Course code: ITAL1114.
Course unit value: 0.5
Nineteenth century historians invented the idea that the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries marked a distinct period in Italian history: a Renaissance or rebirth of the ancient Greek and Roman spirit and values in contrast to the mentality of the Middle Ages. As their main evidence they compared Renaissance and medieval visual art. The former was realistic and often pagan in subject matter. The latter was unrealistic, superstitious and religious. The course illustrates this contrast between medieval and Renaissance visual art and examines whether it holds for such aspects of Italian Renaissance history as civic life, the court, the status of women, war, printing, education, philosophy and science, religious life and the Counter Reformation.
Assessment: one unseen two-hour written examination (100%); one compulsory but not assessed essay; and one compulsory but not assessed commentary.
Tutor: Dr Chiara Franceschini.
Preparatory reading and set texts: to be distributed at first lecture.
