This lecture course traces the development of pictorial art in China from the 3rd century B.C. to the 20th century. Besides introducing the major masters of each period in social and historical context, the lectures also present the esthetic concepts and theories that underlie traditional connoisseurship. We are fortunate that the Elvehjem Museum will be presenting a major exhibition, "Masterworks of Chinese Painting: In Pursuit of Mist and Clouds," so that we can study some good examples directly. For this purpose, some sessions will be held in the museum galleries.

The course lectures will also be complemented by a series of special guest lectures and gallery talks by eminent scholars, which will take place outside of class time. I strongly urge you to attend as many of these events as you can (see schedule below). Students who attend these lectures and turn in short writings related to them will receive extra credit toward the final course grade.

Knowledge of Chinese is not required for this course, but I do expect students to become familiar with important artists, paintings, and artistic concepts. Course grades will be based on three equally weighted examinations that will cover course lectures and assigned readings. Any Art History graduate students who enroll in the course will also be required to work on a semester-long individual project that culminates in a short paper, whose topic should be discussed with me no later than the fourth week of classes.

The course will have a website that will become available at the start of the spring semester (see the Art History Course Websites page). There you will find a syllabus, reserve lists, guest lecture list, and a sample exam. You should print these out the first week of class. Through the semester, I will also post lists of the slides I show in lecture, miscellaneous information, and occasional announcements.