Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 376"
COURSE NAME: "Michelangelo"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Paul Tegmeyer
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: One previous course in Art History or permission of the instructor. Partially on-site; mandatory overnight trip to Florence; activity fee: €25 or $33
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Michelangelo (1475-1564) was one of the most famous and influential artists in his own time and has continued to be ever since. This seems reason enough to examine his work in detail as it forms an essential facet for understanding not only Italian Renaissance art but art in general, as many of the issues involved in trying to comprehend his imagery are applicable throughout art history. The course will have a global monographic approach, meaning that the artist’s entire output will be discussed and analyzed from an array of historical, thematic and methodological points of view. The aim is to arrive at an understanding of Michelangelo’s visual thinking and communicative processes and their development and influence. The mandatory trip may require a fee.

Satisfies "the Early Modern World" core course requirement for Art History majors

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course will have a global monographic approach, meaning that Michelangelo's entire artistic production will be analyzed and discussed from an array of historical, thematic, and methodological points-of-view. The intellectual aim is to arrive at an understanding of Michelangelo's visual thinking and communicative processes and their development and influence.

Along with classroom lectures, their will be a couple of site visits in Rome as well as a required, extra-cost, overnight trip to Florence.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The learning outcomes will be to understand the sculpture, painting and architecture of Michelangelo within the historical and artistic context of late-fifteenth and sixteenth century Renaissance Italy.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
Michelangelo	Howard Hibbard	Harper and Row	0-06-430148-6

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number
Lives of the Artists	giorgio vasari	penguin	9780307432391	N6922.V2213
Michelangelo	Condivi	Penn State University Press	0271018534	ND6923.B9 C613
Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel Ceiling	Loren Partridge	Braziller	9780807613153	ND2757.V35P37
Michelangelo	William Wallace	Cambridge UP	9780521111997	N6923.B9 W35 2010
Renaissance artists and Antique Sculpture	P. Bober	Harvey Miller Publishers	9781905375608	NB85.B63 2010
Michelangelo	H. Hibbard	Penguin	9780140225938	N6923.B9 H25
Michelangelo Sculptor	Acidini Luchinat	Milan: 24 ore cultura	9788871796406	N6923.B9 A4 2010
Michelangelo 1475-1534	Michael Hirst	Yale UP	9780300118612	N6923.B9 H55 2011
Michelangelo's Florentine Pietà	Jack Wasserman	Princeton UP	9780691016214	NB623.B9 A645 2003
the Architecture of Michelangelo	James Ackerman	Princeton UP	9780226002408	NA1123.B9 A83 1986
Michelangelo	Anthony Hughes	Phaidon Press	9780714834832	N6923.H9 A34
The Young Michelangelo	Michael Hirst	Yale UP	1857090667	ND623.B9 H484

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number
Michelangelo and his World	Joachim Poeschke	Abrams	9780810942769	NB615.P643 1996
Donatello and his World	J. Poeschke	Abrams	9780810932111	NB623.D7P59213
The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art	leo steinberg	U of Chicago Press	9780226771861	N8050.S74
The Young Michelangelo	Michael Hirst	Yale UP	9781857090666	NC623.B9 H484
Michelangelo's Nose	Paul Barolsky	Penn State University Press	9780271006956	NX552.Z9M5333
Faun in the Garden	Paul Barolsky	Penn State University Press	9780271013039	N6923.B9 B35
The Genesis and Design of Michelangelo's Campidoglio	James Cooper	Dissertation	54102483	NA1123.B9 A614
Michelangelo's Last Judgment	Bernardine Barnes	U of California Press	0520205499	ND623.B9 A69
High Renaissance Art in St. Peter's and the Vatican	George Hersey	U of Chicago Press	0226327817	N6920.H45
The Renaissance in Rome	Charles Stinger	Indiana UP	0253334918	DG.812.1.S75
Art of Renaissance Florence	Partridge	U of California Press	0520257731	N6921.F7 P37
Michelangelo's David	Charles Seymour	W. W. Norton and Co.	0393007359	NB623.B9 S49
The Sistine Chapel before Michelangelo	L.D. Ettlinger	Clarendon Press	1066053	N2950.E8

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Observation paper	Required will be a 4-5 page paper on a single artwork by Michelangelo chosen from a list to be handed out in class. The written analysis will be about the students personal observation of the chosen piece and the experience drawn from directly seeing and understanding it.	20%
Attendance and Participation	This part of the grade will be based on the individual students attendance and participation in all the classes in this course.	10%
Research Paper	A single artwork or subject chosen in agreement with the Professor will be examined in a minimum 10-page paper.	30%
Final Exam	The Final Exam (administered during the Final Exam week) will consist of two essay questions chosen at random from a list of 5 questions handed out to the students at the last class. This will allow the students a week to prepare to write a 1-hour response to each of the 5 questions, of which 2 will be selected and answered in a two-hour Final Exam time.	40%

-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 course.
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 REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________

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

Following is a preliminary list of class lectures and visits in the course:

Week 1:

Introduction to the Michelangelo course (Mon., Jan. 19)

Michelangelo: an introduction to his life (Wed., Jan. 21)

Weeks 2 and 3:

Early Works: Florence, Bologna, Rome (1490-1501) (Jan. 26; 28; Feb. 2;4) (No Fri., Feb. 6 Class; Make up in Florence)

Weeks 4 and 5:

Back in Florence (1501-06) (Feb. 9; 11; 16; 18)

Weeks 6 and 7:

Under Pope Julius II: His Tomb and the Sistine Chapel (1506-12) (Feb. 23; 25; Mar. 2; 4)) [Observation Paper Due, Wed., Mar. 4]

Week 8:

Spring Break (No classes on Mar. 9; 11)

Week 9:

Under the Medici Popes: Rome and Florence (1513-34) (Mar. 16; 18)

Florence Trip (Fri.-Sat., Mar. 20-21)

Week 10:

No Classes (Made up on Florence Trip) (Mar. 23; 25)

Week 11:

Under the Medici Popes (Mar. 30; Apr. 1)

Week 12:

Final Years in Rome (1534-64) (Mon., Apr. 6 - JCU Holiday; Made up in Florence; Wed., Apr. 8)

Week 13:

Final Years in Rome (Apr. 13; Wed., Apr. 15, No Class; Made up in Florence)

Week 14:

Final Years in Rome (Apr. 20; 22)

Week 15:

Site Visits in Rome (Mon. Apr. 27 - Meet on the Campidoglio at 1:30; Wed. Apr. 29 - Meet in Piazza Farnese at 1:30)

Final Exam Time and Room TBA