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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 298"
COURSE NAME: "Baroque Rome and Its Monuments"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Laura Foster
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TH9:15 AM 12:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: On-site; activity fee: €25 or $33
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Rome City Series - Rome is the city where the baroque style originated and flourished, and this on-site course focuses on some of the most significant works of art, architecture, and urban planning of the 17th-18th centuries. The course will discuss the works of artists and architects like Caravaggio, Artemisia Gentileschi, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Francesco Borromini, and Pietro da Cortona. From Villa Borghese to the Trevi Fountain the artworks and urban spaces will provide an opportunity to discuss aspects like Baroque illusionism, artistic techniques, influential art theories, and the religious and political contexts of art production and collection in this dynamic and vibrant period.

Satisfies "the Early Modern World" core course requirement for Art History majors
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Students will be immersed in the cultural environment of Baroque Rome through direct engagement with painting, sculpture and architecture. The course will introduce core art-historical concepts and terminology, including many Italian ones, through readings and on-site discussion of works. Major themes treated in lectures include the relationship between artists and their patrons; experimentation with media to produce new visual effects; and the increasing interrelation of different media within single spaces to produce a new experiential quality to the works.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will gain from this course:

•the methodological tools for interpreting painting and sculpture through formal and contextual analysis, gained through reading a variety of art historical texts and first-hand examination of art works

•a familiarity with architectural styles and vocabulary to discuss the formal quality of buildings and urban spaces

•an understanding of the Baroque period from both aesthetic and historical perspectives

•familiarity with some of the most important artists working in the period, and the means of identifying their particular style.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Art and Architecture in Italy in Italy, 3 VolsRudolf WittkowerYale University Press9780300079418N6916 .W5 1999 
Baroque & Rococo. Art & CultureVernon Hyde MinorLaurence King9781856691734N6410 .M56 1999 

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm ExaminationSlide identifications; short answer questions regarding historical and stylistic terminology, and patronage; essay topic treating major themes treated in class and readings. 20%
Final ExaminationThe format of the final exam is identical to that of the midterm, and will cover the material from the second half of the semester, with the exception of the final essay questions which will treat themes covered over the entire semester.25%
3 Descriptions of works of art (10% each)In 3 different class meetings, we will look at a specific work of art and take detailed notes. From these notes, students will write a short essay including formal analysis and discussion of subject matter. The objective of the exercise is to hone skills in observation of the material qualities of the works which can then be applied to a broader research project. 30%
Approaching Research to Baroque Rome: Paper Paper (approximately 5 pages in length with bibliography and illustrations) assessing the context for a specific work of art or architecture. Further details of the assignment will be provided after the midterm exam. 25%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is required for all class meetings. Absences will be taken into consideration when assessing the course participation grade. Absences should be avoided as much as possible, given that the class meets only once per week and that it is very difficult to visit sites individually.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE




 

Week

Topic

Meeting Place

Required Readings

Assignments & special instructions

Sept 5

Course Introduction: Rome in the era of the Catholic Reformation

 

Classroom

Guarini G.K.G 1

Readings for each lecture should be completed before the lecture

 

Sept 12

The Turn of the 17th Century

In front of the Church of il Gesù, Piazza del Gesù (near Piazza Venezia)

 

•Vernon Hyde Minor, Baroque & Rococo: Art and Culture, Ch. 2, pp. 41-65; Ch. 3 pp. 75-82; Ch. 5 pp. 157-172.

 

CHURCH DRESS CODE

 

Note-taking for first writing assignment on painting

 

Sept 19

Vision(s) and Apparitions: Saints and Illusions in the Reformed Church

In front of the Chiesa Nuova, Corso Vittorio Emanuele

 

•Wittkower, Vol. 1, Ch. 2 and Ch. 4

•Sources and Documents, pp. 16-20 (Vincenzo Giustiniani); pp. 92-96 (bio of Giovanni Lanfranco)

 

 

CHURCH DRESS CODE

 

Paper must be uploaded to Moodle by 5:00 p.m.

 

Sept 20

Art collecting and entertainments in the Baroque villa

In front of the Galleria Borghese

•Vernon Hyde Minor, Baroque & Rococo, Ch. 9, pp. 350-352

•Wittkower, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, pp. 5-22

•Sources and Documents, pp. 33-39 (Giulio Mancini)

 

Class starts at 8:45 a.m., ends at 11:15.

 

 

Sept 26

The completion and decoration of St. Peter’s

Piazza of St. Peter’s, at the center near the obelisk

•Vernon Hyde Minor, Baroque & Rococo, Ch. 3, pp. 82-83; Ch. 4 pp. 119-24.

•Wittkower, Vol. 2, Ch. 2, pp. 33-38.

 

Class starts at 9:00 a.m., ends at 11:45.

 

CHURCH DRESS CODE

 

Notetaking for second writing assignment on sculpture

 

Oct 3

 

Iconographies of Faith and Power: Palazzo dei Conservatori and Paintings of the Capitoline Museums

 

Piazza del Campidoglio, at the center near the statue

•Wittkower, Vol. 2, Ch. 4 pp. 74-81

•Sources and Documents, on Reni, pp. 86-91, and Guercino, pp. 96-100

 

 

 Oct 10

Review and Discussion

Classroom GKG 1

 

 

2nd paper must be uploaded to Moodle by 5:00 p.m.

 

Oct 17

MIDTERM EXAM

Classroom

GKG 1

•Exam will last 90 mins, followed by library seminar on art historical research

 

CLASS BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M.
 
Oct 24

The architecture of self-promotion: Palazzo Barberini

Piazza Barberini in front of the Triton Fountain

•Patricia Waddy, Seventeenth-Century Roman Palaces:  Use and Art of the Plan, Ch. 1 pp. 3-13 and Ch. 12, pp. 179-202 (Be able to understand the different wings of the palace and their function). E-book.

•Vernon Hyde Minor, Baroque & Rococo, Ch. 153-155

 

 
Oct 31

Mystical experience and the reformed religious orders

In front of Acqua Felice (Moses Fountain) on via Vittorio Emanuele Orlando

 

•Wittkower, Vol. 2, Ch. 2 pp. 23-38 and Ch. 3

 

CHURCH DRESS CODE

 

Note-taking for 3rd writing assignment on architecture
Nov 7

Pope Innocent X and the Imperial Church

Piazza Navona, at the center near the Four Rivers Fountain

•Vernon Hyde Minor, Baroque & Rococo, Ch. 3, pp. 84-93 and Ch. 8, pp. 315-318

•Wittkower, Vol. 2, Ch. 5 pp. 85-98 and Ch. 7, pp. 121-127

 

CHURCH DRESS CODE

 

3rd writing assignment must be uploaded to Moodle by 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Nov 14

Illusion and Spectacle in the Late Baroque

In front of the church of S. Andrea della Valle

•Wittkower, Vol. 2, Ch. 8 pp. 134-145;

• Vernon Hyde Minor, Baroque & Rococo, Ch. 4 pp. 144-148

 

CHURCH DRESS CODE

Nov 21

Picturesque Rome: Between architecture and image

Piazza del Popolo, at the center near the obelisk

 

•Wittkower, Vol. 3, Ch. 1 pp. 7-17

 

Final writing assignment must be uploaded to Moodle by 5:00 p.m.

 

Dec 5

Review and discussion

Classroom

 

 

 

FINAL EXAM DATE AND TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED