Previous course offerings can be found here.

ARTH/AMST 270

AMERICAN ART AND CULTURE BEFORE 1900

Prof. HENRY ADAMS

MW 12:45pm-2:00pm

This course will introduce students to the pivotal works of art created between approximately 250 and 1500. We will discuss painting, sculpture, architecture, manuscript illumination, and graphic arts. Medieval visual and material culture will be considered within the framework of socio-political developments, rapid urban growth, the flowering of monastic culture, the rise of universities, and changes in devotional practices. While the course will primarily focus on western part of the medieval Christendom, we will also discuss Jewish, Byzantine, and Islamic art. Visits to the CMA will form an integral part of the course.

ARTH 341/441

Issues in the Art of Japan: Transformations in Medieval Visual Culture

Prof. Rachel Quist

Wednesday, 3:20 – 4:45 pm

This course will explore developments in medieval Japanese art, starting with the rise of cloistered imperial rule in the eleventh century and ending in the sixteenth century with the violent upheaval of the Sengoku era. From the expressive formations of wood sculpture, to the flowing brushwork of ink painting, to the crackling surfaces of tea ware, students will consider how visual culture embodied this dynamic period in Japanese history. We will begin with an introduction to major historical and cultural movements in Japan’s middle ages, considering the impact of art across social strata. Subsequent class sessions will delve into central themes that shape contemporary understandings of medieval art, including intercultural exchange, materiality and the natural world, and intersections of healing and image-making practices.

ARTH 495

Methodologies of Art History

Prof. Benjamin Murphy

Tuesdays, 10 – 12:30

ARTH 545

Seminar in Medieval Art: Art Around 1000

Dr. Gerhard Lutz

Wednesdays, 10 – 12:30

The seminar focuses on the art of the decades around 1000 from various perspectives, which is often referred to as Ottonian, particularly by German scholars – based on the imperial dynasty ruling at the time. In addition to a look at the history of research, the main focus is on case studies, which will allow us to discuss the various facets of art from this period. These include examples from architecture, sculpture, goldsmiths work, bronze casting and manuscript illumination, as well as the analysis of written sources and a look at spiritual and artistic centers and donor figures.

ARTH 571

Seminar in Contemporary Art

Prof. Ben Murphy

Wednesday, 1:00-3:30 pm