Studies in Art History

Introduction to Byzantine Art History (4th-15th century) This module aims to provide some basic knowledge about Byzantine Art History, from the foundation of Constantinople to the fall of the Empire (330-1453 AD). Lessons will be focused on trends, artists, works and buildings, whose relations to the Mediterranean creative and social context will be particularly investigated. Notes The course is reserved to whose surnames’ initial letters are between A and L. Course Articulation: Lessons 1-6: Constitutive characters of Byzantium history and artistic civilization. The Early Byzantine age, from the foundation of Constantinople to the end of the Theodosian dynasty (4th-5th century): urban planning and monuments of the capital; architectures, sculptures and mosaics in Thessalonica; Byzantine Syria. Lessons 7-12: From Justinian to the end of Iconoclasm (6th-9th century): imperial patronage in the 6th century; Hagia Sophia of Anthemius and Isidorus; luxury arts; the Sinai monastery and the oldest Christian icons; the fight for holy images and the church of the Dormition in Nicaea. Lessons 13-21: The Middle and Late Byzantine age (9th-15th century): the renovatio of arts in the Macedonian age; new architectural typologies; illuminations, ivories, enamels and jewelry; Cappadocia and Armenia in Middle Byzantine Age; monasteries and cathedrals in the 11th century, from Greece to Rus’; Constantinople, Macedonia and Cyprus in the Comnenian age; the Fourth Crusade and the Latin Empire age; the Empire of Trebisonda, the Despotate of Epirus and the Kingdom of Serbia; the Palaiologan age, from the reconquest of Constantinople to its fall.

Taking the exam of Medieval Art History is necessary before attending the course.

Attending students - Andrea Paribeni (a cura di), Architettura bizantina, Electa, Milano 2009 (available at Centro Stampa Chioschi Gialli, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Città Universitaria, ph. 06-89873441 or 06-90209041; e-mail: centrostampa@nuovacultura.it); - Introduzione all’arte bizantina (IV-XV secolo), dispense a cura di C. Barsanti, M. della Valle, R. Flaminio, A. Guiglia, A. Iacobini, A. Paribeni, S. Pasi, S. Pedone, A. Taddei (available at Centro Stampa Chioschi Gialli, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Città Universitaria, ph. 06-89873441 or 06-90209041; e-mail: centrostampa@nuovacultura.it). Non-attending students In addition to the above-listed contributions, Non-attending students are encouraged to read one extra text selected among the following ones: - Enrico Zanini, Introduzione all’archeologia bizantina, Carocci, Roma 1994. - Ernst Kitzinger, Alle origini dell’arte bizantina. Correnti stilistiche nel mondo mediterraneo dal III al VII secolo, a cura di M. Andaloro e P. Cesaretti, Jaca Book, Milano 2005. - Enrico Zanini, Costantinopoli, Carocci, Roma 2022. - Fernanda de’ Maffei, Bisanzio e l’ideologia delle immagini, a cura di C. Barsanti, A. Guiglia, A. Iacobini, A. Paribeni, M. della Valle, Liguori Editore, Napoli 2011, pp. 55-84; 107-117; 229-301; 349-371. - Antonio Iacobini, Visioni dipinte. Immagini della contemplazione negli affreschi di Bawit, Viella, Roma 2000. - Livia Bevilacqua, Arte e aristocrazia a Bisanzio nell'età dei Macedoni. Costantinopoli, la Grecia e l'Asia Minore, Campisano Editore, Roma 2013. - Simona Moretti, Roma bizantina. Opere d'arte dall'impero di Costantinopoli nelle collezioni romane, Campisano Editore, Roma 2014. - Giovanni Gasbarri, Riscoprire Bisanzio. Lo studio dell'arte bizantina a Roma e in Italia tra Ottocento e Novecento, Viella, Roma 2015.

Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. Students who can not follow the lessons are asked to contact the teacher in any case for explanations and suggestions.

The exam will be oral and it will take place at the end of the course (intermediate tests will not be held). The oral exam will be focused on the topics of the programme (by using pictures) in order to verify: 1) the depth and breadth of the acquired knowledge; 2) the specific vocabulary; 3) the ability to link themes and problems critically. Students will be also evaluated considering their active participation to the lessons.

None

The course will be held through frontal classes supported by keynote presentations. All over the academic year the professor will be available to receive students following the timetable published online on the University website. Any possible variations or suspensions of office hours will be promptly notified. Erasmus students must contact the professor at the beginning of the course.

History of Byzantine Art (4th to 15th century): An introduction The course is devoted to the scholarly investigation of the material relics of the Byzantine millennium from late antiquity and the Early Byzantine civilisation up to the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 AD. Classes will provide students with an overall knowledge of the Eastern Roman empire and its history. This wide chronological span will be dealt with by adopting the conventional sub-periodisation: 1. Early Byzantine period (4th to 7th century); 2. Middle Byzantine period (8th to 12th century); 3. Late Byzantine period (13th to 15th century). Byzantine art, archeology and culture will be explored, with an emphasis on the capital city, Constantinople, and the other major centres. Cross-cultural interactions between Byzantium and its neighbours will be considered as well. A particular focus mainly on the following subjects: a. Architecture b. Sculptural decoration c. Paintings d. Illuminated manuscripts e. Objets d'art

Regular attendance to the course does not depends upon the attainment of preparatory credits or exams.

1. Introduzione all’arte bizantina (IV-XV secolo): lecture notes edited by C. Barsanti, M. della Valle, R. Flaminio, A. Guiglia, A. Iacobini, A. Paribeni, S. Pasi, S. Pedone, A. Taddei, Roma 2012 + CD with colour plates (to be purchased from Centro Stampa Chioschi Gialli, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Città Universitaria, phone number 06-89873441 or 06-90209041 - e-mail: centrostampa@nuovacultura.it).. 2. Andrea Paribeni (ed.), Architettura bizantina, Milano: Electa, 2009 (to be purchased at Centro Stampa Chioschi Gialli, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Città Universitaria, phone number 06-89873441 or 06-90209041 - e-mail: centrostampa@nuovacultura.it). Students who do not attend classes regularly (less than 55%-addendance) are kindly requested to proceed to further readings. They may choose one among the following texts: 1. Enrico Zanini, Introduzione all’archeologia bizantina, Roma: Carocci, 1994. 2. Leslie Brubaker, L'invenzione dell'iconoclasmo bizantino (translated by M. C. Carile), Roma: Viella, 2016 (English edition: Inventing Byzantine Iconoclasm, London: Bristol Classical Press, 2012.

The course will be based upon class attendance.

Class attendance is highly recommended. Students who cannot assure their attendance to the 55% of classes will be considered as "non-attendant students".

The final (oral) exam is based on assigned readings in textbooks and in lecture notes. The course does not imply any sort of midterm test. In order to pass the exam, a final grade corresponding to 18 points out of 30 is needed. Students are expected to be acquainted with the basic notions of the subject and, more precisely, they should demonstrate to have attained a proper knowledge of the development of Byzantine art through the centuries together with the relevant geo-political, historical and cultural frame. To pass the exam with full marks - 30 points out of 30 cum laude - students must show a high proficiency in all the learning outcomes and a full understanding of the issues that were dealt with during classes. They are requested to be able to work out in a logical and coherent way the data and information they have acquired.

The course will be based upon class attendance.