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Art
History 331 |
| This is a course frequently
elected by art history majors and graduate students. It is assumed that
all students will have had the equivalent of a survey course in Renaissance
to Modern Art--such as Art History 202. This is not an official requirement,
but students lacking some general background in Art History may find themselves
at a disadvantage, particularly during the first few weeks of class.
Some of the artists covered are Claus Sluter, the Limbourg Brothers, the Master of Flemalle, Jan and Hubert Van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Hugo van der Goes, Hans Memling, Geertgen tot sint Jans, and Gerard David. Most of the works of art produced in the Netherlands during this period were commissioned for religious purposes--e.g. prayer books, altarpieces, devotional diptychs, etc.--and there is necessarily a strong emphasis upon Christian iconography, which often takes the form of symbolism reflecting contemporary developments in northern European theology, philosophy, and economics. All of this is not quite as dull as it sounds, however, because the period also produced a number of important stylistic and technical developments--the introduction of oil painting, the conquest of three-dimensional space and the reproduction of exact textural effects, and the development of autonomous portraiture. Two examinations are usually given--mid-term and final--although an optional 12-week exam is offered on request. |