Aims and objectives

The module aims to:

• explore the relationship between theory and practice in art throughout the Renaissance period.
• study a small number of significant works of Renaissance painting, sculpture and architecture both in depth and in terms of their purpose and function.
• examine the changing role of patronage and the way that it influenced the kinds of art produced in the Renaissance period.
• examine the changing status of the artist over the period 1305 -1564.
• promote scholarship through the analysis of contemporary sources and documents rather than from secondary sources.
• encourage through seminar discussion, some of the fundamental issues and theories relating to Renaissance art and literature.
• underline the intellectual, philosophical and mathematical basis of Renaissance art at various periods in its development

Objectives:

By the end of the module the student will possess:

• a greater understanding of the relationship between theory and practice in early and late Renaissance art.
• detailed knowledge of the purpose and function of a number of works of Renaissance painting, sculpture and architecture and recognise similar underlying principles where they occur in other works of Italian Renaissance art.
• a good grasp of the way that artistic patronage changed throughout the period 1305 - 1564 and detailed knowledge of the way in which it influenced a number of important works of art in the Renaissance period.
• a good understanding of the changing status of the Renaissance artist over the period covered by the course.
• the ability to analyse contemporary sources and documents of the Renaissance period in translation and to build an argument based on the information contained therein.
• the ability to participate in seminar discussion, where the subject relates to fundamental issues and theories of Renaissance art and literature.
• a good understanding of the intellectual, philosophical and mathematical basis of Renaissance art at various periods in its development