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Art History

School of Art and Art History

GARTH 205. Survey of World Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance. 3 credits.

An introduction to the art and architecture of the world from cave painting through European Pre-Renaissance art. Includes ancient through medieval art in Europe and the Near East, as well as Asian and African arts.

GARTH 206. Survey of World Art II: Renaissance to Modern. 3 credits.

Introduction to art and architecture of the world from the Renaissance through Modern ages. Includes European Renaissance, Baroque, Enlightenment, 19th and 20th centuries, as well as Asian and African arts.

ARTH 210. African Art and Culture in the Humanities. 3 credits.

An interdisciplinary introduction to African art and culture with topics focusing on life ways, music, religion, philosophy, art, literature and cinema. This course provides a strong background for upper division course work in the arts of African and the African diaspora, as well as for students pursing degrees in history and anthropology. May be counted as GHUM 252.

ARTH 300. Art History Seminar. 3 credits.

Exploration of various methodological approaches in the history of art, including connoisseurship, iconography, formalism, psychological studies and interpretations of art and society. Students will examine contrasting interpretations of major works of art. Seminar format. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. Prerequisite: GARTH 205, GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 303. History of Design. 3 credits.

This course is an investigation into the domains of graphic and industrial design. The material will explore these disciplines through reading, lecture and an acquired visual literacy of the contextual, ideational and philosophic agendas.

ARTH 304. History of Photography. 3 credits.

A survey of photography as an art form from its discovery to the present day. Emphasis is on 20th-century developments and recent contemporary trends.

ARTH 305. History of Decorative Arts. 3 credits.

A history of the decorative arts in Europe and America from c. 1200 to c. 1930. This course provides a stylistic and contextual analysis concentrating on domestic furnishings, including textiles, furniture, metals, ceramics and glass. Prerequisite: GARTH 205 or GARTH 206.

ARTH 313. Masterpieces of Italian Renaissance Art. 3 credits. (Semester in Florence only.)

A survey of Italian Renaissance painting and sculpture (1280-1550), including the works of Giotto, Donatello, Masaccio, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Leonardo and Michelangelo. Weekly visits to the Uffizi, San Marco, the Accademia and other Florentine museums.

ARTH 314. Masterpieces of Spanish Art. 3 credits. (Semester in Salamanca only.)

A survey of art in Spain from prehistoric cave painting through 20th-century art. Emphasis is given to 17th/18th-century Baroque and modern artists including El Greco, Velasquez, Goya, Gaudi and Picasso. Visits to Altamira, the Alhambra, the Prado, Toledo, Santillana del Mar and other sites.

ARTH 315. Masterpieces of British Architecture. 3 credits. (Semester in London only.)

This history and theory of British architecture from prehistoric to modern times. Weekly visits to the British Museum, Hampton Court, Avebury, Bath, Chiswick, the Victoria Albert Museum and other monuments.

ARTH 316. Masterpieces of British Art. 3 credits. (Semester in London only.)

Survey of painting and sculpture in Britain (1530-1860) concentrating on 18th/19th-century painting. British art is viewed in the context of European civilization. Weekly visits to London museums including the Portrait Gallery, Sir John Soane’s House, the Wallace Collection and the Tate Gallery.

ARTH 317. Masterpieces of French Art. 3 credits. (Semester in Paris only.)

A survey of French art from the Middle Ages to the modern day. Weekly visits to the major museums of Paris including the Louvre, the Musee D’Orsay, Cluny and Centre Pompidou.

ARTH 320. Travel Study in Art History. 3 credits.

Art history credit is available to students participating in formal travel study programs with an emphasis on art history. Students maintain a journal with an emphasis on their art history experiences and write a research paper. Prerequisites: Permission of the program leader and art history coordinator. Formerly ARTH 419.

ARTH/HIST 396. Introduction to Public History. 3 credits.

An introduction to the varied and interdisciplinary “field” of Public History, such as community/local history, historic preservation, archives, historical archaeology, museum studies, business and policy history, documentary editing and publishing, and documentary films-through readings, class discussions, occasional guest speakers, and occasional field trips.

ARTH 410. African Art: The Sahara and Northern Sahel. 3 credits.

An introduction to the arts and cultures of northern and northwestern Africa. The diverse, rich heritage of Africa’s arts will be explored through the major style areas of Saharan and northern sub-Saharan Africa including prehistoric rock arts, Egypt, northern Africa, Christian northeastern Africa and Islamic North Africa. Formerly ARTH 301.

ARTH 412. African Art: Sub-Saharan. 3 credits.

A survey of the arts and cultures of sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the major style areas of the continent. Coverage will include: the historic sites of Nigeria, the Guinea Coast, and central, eastern, and southern Africa. Prerequisite: GARTH 205, GARTH 206 or permission of instructor.

ARTH 416. Arts of Oceania. 3 credits.

An introduction to the visual arts and cultures of Oceania (the South Pacific). The major style areas of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia will be explored. Prerequisite: GARTH 205, GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 419. Topics in African Art. 3 credits.

Topics in African Art will deal with the current thematic or methodological issues such as contemporary African arts and artists, arts of the African diaspora, a particular media (such as architecture or the textile arts), portraiture and identity, the royal arts of Africa, African film and performance, or gender in the arts of Africa. Prerequisite: GARTH 205, GARTH 206, ARTH 210 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 420. Ancient Art. 3 credits.

A study of major works selected from the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman cultures. Considers themes such as the development of sacred places, royal art and architecture and artistic conventions in early civilizations. Prerequisite: GARTH 205 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 402.

ARTH 424. Arts of Ancient Egypt. 3 credits.

A study of the arts and culture of Ancient Egypt (c. 3000 B.C. to c. 300 B.C.). This course will focus on the art and architecture of the Old and New Kingdoms and also examine the enduring fascination with this unique artistic heritage from the excavations of Napoleon to the present. Prerequisite: GARTH 205 or GARTH 206.

ARTH 430. Far Eastern Art. 3 credits.

A survey of East Asian art from prehistoric times to 19th-century colonialism. Emphasis is on the areas of major production: India, China and Japan, with less attention to such centers as Cambodia, Siam and Korea. Prerequisite: GARTH 205 or GARTH 206. Formerly ARTH 403.

ARTH 440. Early Medieval Art. 3 credits.

Survey of Early Christian, Hiberno-Saxon and Byzantine art 300-1200. Examines painting, mosaics, manuscripts illumination and the development of church design in Italy and the Byzantine World. Considers cross-fertilization of Pagan, Christian, Islamic and Barbarian arts in Western Europe in the Early Middle Ages. Prerequisite: GARTH 205 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 442. Art of Later Middle Ages. 3 credits.

A study of Western European arts and architecture in the later Middle Ages with concentration on Romanesque and Gothic styles (1000-1400). Examines church construction and allied arts around the millennium and the development of Gothic architecture, sculpture and painting in France, Italy and England. Prerequisite: GARTH 205 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 444. Gothic and Gothic Revival Architecture. 3 credits.

Survey of Gothic architecture in France, England and Italy 1150-1500 and its influence in England and America 1750-1910. Examines the design of major cathedrals and regional European Gothic styles. Explores their influence upon Walpole, Pugin, Ruskin and other champions of Gothic Revival. Prerequisite: GARTH 205, GARTH 206, or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 446. Italian Renaissance Art. 3 credits.

A survey of the development of Italian Renaissance art and architecture 1300-1550. Focuses on themes such as the revival of classical art, the influence of humanism and Neo-Platonism, the invention of perspective and the formation of the Early and High Renaissance styles. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 404.

ARTH 448. Studies in Leonardo and Michelangelo. 3 credits.

Seminar which examines the artworks of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti. Discusses issues such as the artist’s creative process, the development of the artist’s style, the patron’s role in artwork and inter-relationships between the artist’s visual and literary works. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 449. Topics in Renaissance Art. 3 credits.

Topics in Renaissance art may include studies of major Italian or Northern Renaissance artists, the development of linear perspective, the Renaissance tomb chapel or art and politics of the Protestant Reformation. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 484.

ARTH 450. Baroque Art. 3 credits.

A survey of European art and architecture of the 17th century. This course will focus on Baroque art and its cultural context in Italy, France, Britain and Holland. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 406.

ARTH 452. Eighteenth Century Art. 3 credits.

A survey of the major European artistic movements of the 18th century. This course will focus on the development of the Rococo and Neo- classical styles in architecture, sculpture and painting. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 407.

ARTH 459. Topics in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Art. 3 credits.

Topics in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Art may include studies of particular artists such as Rembrandt, Caravagggio, or Watteau, studies of particular styles such as the Rococo, or thematic studies such as the history of garden design or the development of art theory. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 460. Nineteenth Century Art. 3 credits.

A study of European art (1750-1900) concentrating on Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism and Symbolism. Major topics include nationalism, historicism and the advent of new modes of representation. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 408.

ARTH 469. Topics in Nineteenth Century Art. 3 credits.

Topics in Nineteenth Century Art may include studies of major artists, such as Caspar David Friedrich or Edouard Manet, specific artists groups like the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, or thematic issues such as the relationship between art and nationalism. Prerequisite: GARTH 206.

ARTH 470. Modern Art from 1900-1945. 3 credits.

Principle trends in European and American art – painting, sculpture, photography, film, architecture – during the first decades of the century. Central themes include art and nationalism, modernity and industry/technology, impact of popular culture, and art theory and criticism. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 410.

ARTH 472. Modern Art Since 1945. 3 credits.

A study of the many developments and trends in American and European art since 1945. This course will focus on such movements as abstract expressionism, pop, conceptual art, installation art, video, film and computer art with an understanding of the theoretical basis of those movements and the development of the art market during this period. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 411.

ARTH 474. The New Media and Contemporary Art. 3 credits.

Advanced seminar that addresses impact of cultural politics and technology on how we make, evaluate and “speak” about art. Focus on a variety of media including video, multi-media installations, conceptual art, computer generated imagery, virtual “reality,” contemporary film and digital photography. Prerequisite: ARTH 470, ARTH 472 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 476. Modern Architecture. 3 credits.

Survey of architecture from 1851 to the present day. Thematic investigations will include regional, philosophical and technical developments in architectural space. Architects may include Labrouste, Berlage, Wagner and Richardson, through Wright, Mies, Le Corbusier, to the avant-garde Murcutt, Siza, Nouvel and Mockbee. Prerequisite: GARTH 206 or permission of the instructor. Formerly ARTH 412.

ARTH 479. Topics in Twentieth Century Art. 3 credits.

Topics in Twentieth Century Art may include studies of contemporary painters (i.e. Gerhard Richter), sculptors (i.e. Kiki Smith), performance and video artists (i.e. Bill Viola) or thematic issues such as the relationships among art, technology and gender/racial politics. Prerequisite: ARTH 470, ARTH 472 or permission of the instructor.

ARTH 480. American Art to 1870. 3 credits.

American painting, sculpture, architecture and decorative arts from the Colonial period through 1870. Topics will include Colonial portraiture, African American aesthetics, the definition of folk art, nationalism and landscape painting and the question of American exceptionalism. The course will also introduce students to problems of interpretation in current scholarship. Prerequisite: GARTH 206.

ARTH 482. American Art from 1870. 3 credits.

American painting, sculpture, architecture and decorative arts from 1870 to 1945. The course will address topics such as the American Renaissance, the Harlem Renaissance, Chicago School architecture, masculinity in Western American art, notions of decay in turn-of-the-century art and American modernism. It will also introduce methodological debates in current scholarship. Prerequisite: GARTH 206.

ARTH 484. Art of the Americas. 3 credits.

Art of indigenous peoples in the Americas (Meso, Central, South and/or North) before European contact. The course will examine domestic and state architecture, painting, textiles, ceramics, metalwork and earthworks within the context of geographic, state, religious and social issues. Other topics include museum display, repatriation and western taxonomies.

ARTH 486. Monticello. 3 credits.

A seminar on the architecture and material culture of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. The course will examine the house’s design, artwork, decorative arts, mechanical devices, landscape/garden design and Mulberry Row. Topics will include African American artisans at the Monticello joinery, Jefferson’s Indian Hall, and European and African American domestic life in the Federal Period. Required field trips. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

ARTH/ART489. Topics in Art and Art History. 3 credits.

Study of selected topics in art and art history. May be repeated when course content changes. See Registration and Student Record Services Handbook for current topics.

ARTH 489. Topics in American Art History. 3 credits.

Topics in American Art may include studies of major artists such as Thomas Cole, George Catlin or Thomas Eakins, a specific group like the Hudson River School, orthematic issues such as art produced in a colonial context, sentimentalism in American genre painting or representatives of the West in American art. Prerequisite: GARTH 206.

ARTH/ART/GRPH 490. Independent Studies in Art or Art History or Graphic Design. 1-3 credits each semester.

Independent activity such as research or studio practice under faculty supervision. Projected studies in any area of school’s offering must be arranged with the instructors who will direct them. Offered only with consent of the director. Prerequisite: GRPH 250 for GRPH 490.

ANTH/ARTH/HIST 492. American Material Culture. 3 credits.

A broad introduction to the multidisciplinary “field” of material culture studies through readings, written assignments, in-class exercises, and field trips. The course introduces ways of looking at and learning from objects and examines how scholars from several disciplines have used material culture in their work. Prerequisite: HIST 395. Instructor’s permission required to waive HIST 395 prerequisite for non history majors.

ARTH/HIST 493. Historic Preservation. 3 credits.

An introduction to the philosophy and techniques of historic preservation, guidelines for restoration, state and National Register forms and procedures, historic architecture, structural analysis, restoration techniques as well as the business aspects of historic preservation projects. Field trips are a major component of the course. Prerequisite: HIST 395. Instructor’s permission required to waive HIST 395 prerequisite for non history majors.

ARTH/HIST 494. Introduction to Museum Work. 3 credits.

A study of the philosophy and practice of museum work including the areas of exhibit design, conservation registration, education and administration. Subject is taught from the perspective of the museum profession and is applicable to diverse disciplines and types of collections.

ARTH/ART/GRPH 495. Internship in Art or Art History or Graphic Design. 1-8 credits.

An off-campus program prepared and monitored on an individual basis. Internships are designed to provide practical experience in the arts. ARTH 494 is a prerequisite for internships in museum and galleries. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and director. ARTH 494 for ART/ARTH 495 in museums and galleries. GRPH 250 for GRPH 495.

ARTH/ART/GRPH 499. Honors. 6 credits total for three semesters (1, 3, 2).