Field Study Sample Syllabus

Baroque Art in Rome: An Introduction	31 May - 7 June 2007  (Term 5)
ARTH 199H / 489H	3 s.h.

Information for Rome

The faculty member is making arrangements for a hotel.  More information will follow.

FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION:
Prof. O'Brien's home phone: 00 39 055 6503515
Cell: 00 39 338 7793283 or e-mail: l.obrien@tin.it

Class starts Saturday at 12:00 sharp because at 12:30 we will go to the Vatican.  The class schedule is still pending but by and large we will be out every morning as well as some afternoons visiting churches and museums.  As soon as this is finalized I will send it out but in any case a final schedule will be available at class.  We will be visiting the following museums:

Borghese
Barberini
Doria Pamphili
Capitoline
Vatican & Sistine

          Reserved private visits: Palazzo Farnese, Casino Ludovisi, Casino Rospigliosi

-We will be in a lot of churches so dress accordingly:  no bare shoulders or shorts on women.  It is a good idea for women to bring a light shawl/scarf to eventually cover their shoulders or wrap around over their shorts. 
-We walk a lot! So wear comfortable shoes.
-It can be very hot during the day and cool at night.
-Bring a reading light and a clipboard for taking notes in the museums. 
-Pickpocketing is a constant problem—have a photocopy of your passport and fannypack or something of that nature.

I look forward to meeting you all on Sat.  If you are late on Sat. or a problem arises, PLEASE call me on my cell.
(Cell: 00 39 338 7793283).

P.S.  Bring opera glasses if you have them.

Syllabus:

During an introductory lecture, the final schedule, maps, and history outlines will be given out and class requirements will be discussed with the students.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Baroque was a very special time- a Janus-like period with its roots in the past, yet the dawn of a new attitude/world vision. The art of this period reflects an obsession with death (martyrdom scene, etc) and with space - a new infinite sense of space around them (the discovery of America etc) and space above them (invention of the telescope and the exploration of space). There is also paradoxically - a certain element of sensuality because the Church wanted art to help the faithful experience the passion and the pain of martyrdom, to smell the scorched bodies of the sinners in hell. There is no better place to study Baroque art than in its birthplace-Rome.

COURSE GOALS: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
   -Understand what the Baroque period in Rome is all about and how it influenced art in Europe .
   -Recognise the widely differing expressions of Baroque art , and especially the styles of  Caravaggio,  the Caracci, Bernini and Borromini.
   -Appreciate  the role the Counter-Reformation will play in the arts and how the Church will use art.
   -Visualise the  new role in art given to the classical world.
   -Comprehend the new phenomenon of the "artist maudit"-for example Caravaggio- why were many of his works rejected?

COURSE INTRODUCTION: This fieldstudy takes place in Rome, the birthplace of Baroque Art in Europe. Students will visit the museums, and more importantly, the churches and palaces where they will be able to admire works of art where they were meant to be seen - in situ.  This course begins with a trip to the SISTINE Chapel- birthplace of  Baroque art and also of the new role to be played by the Church in the arts. We will study the effects of the Council of Trent upon the arts. Then we will look at the beginnings with Caravaggio and the Caracci. We will also study the art of their followers as well as the Architecture of Bernini, Borromini and da Cortona, and the sculpture of Bernini- to name the essential artists. Students will study how the various disciplines interacted as well as how he artist was viewed by contemporary society:   Lectures take place at the hotel and in situ.

CLASS TEXT: John MARTIN: Baroque
Additional suggested reading: Any book on Caravaggio, Bernini and Borromini.                  
There are several economic paperbacks on these artists available in Rome.
Hopefully students will have read the text before class starts.  There will be handouts given on the first day of class and review sheets on Wed. for the exam.

Grading:  The final grade is based upon the following calculation:

The journal will help students to organise the various museum visits and fieldtrips, encompassing architecture, sculpture and painting.  Unfortunately, the various art works cannot always be seen in chronological order, so the students may wish to use a binder with loose-leaf papers so that they can organise their journal on a day-by-day basis or in chronological order.  The journal will involve the identification of art works and a discussion of them—the artist, period, purpose, etc.  It can be presented at the end of the class or sent later within the deadline.

The examination will last 2½ - 3 hours and will be on the last day of class.  It will include slide identification, short questions and a choice of essay questions.  The essay questions concern themes discussed throughout the course; for example, the social status of the artist, influences between painting and sculpture, the development of landscape painting etc.  There will be a review the day before the exam.

Upper level students must do a  research paper of 5-7 pages, involving at least one other book. A list of subjects will be provided on the first day of class. Some examples: Compare the same subject, for example an Annunciation or a Judith, by 2 or 3 different artists; compare 2 different churches etc.  Students must include a bibliography and footnotes.

Journals and papers are due by June 19
By mail: CMR 426, Box 831 APO AE 06913
e-mail: l.obrien@tin.it

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Last Updated: 14 January 2008