Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 380"
COURSE NAME: "Selected Topics in Art History"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Linda Nolan
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: W12:30 PM 3:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: One course in Art History
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Periodically offered courses that focus on a particular dimension of the history of art. Topics typically cross over established periods, focus on a modern artist or movement (e.g. Picasso), or deal with non-Western art (Islamic Art).

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This seminar examines the interest in collecting and the rise of conspicuous modes of display of art and material objects in Rome during the early modern period. The chronological focus in the 17^th century; but attention will be given to the broader history of collecting from the 15^th century to the birth of the museum in the 18^th century. During this pro-seminar, review of important scholarship on the history of collecting will help students rehearse foundational art historical research topics and methods, such as patron studies, connoisseurship, and provenance research. Rare books, prints, and ephemera will fuel discussion and research projects that could range in topic from the rise of the art market, temporary exhibitions, the intersection of scientific objects and art in collections, and the performative nature of art in early modern collections. Special focus will be placed on collections in palaces, the Giustiniani Collection, the “Paper Museum” of Cassiano dal Pozzo, the Capitoline Museums, the Borghese Gallery,and the Vatican Museums. The course will include on-site visits in Rome. A required weekend long trip to Florence and an optional trip to Milan will be coordinated.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Student will learn to:

- learnedly discuss the history of the collecting of art in early modern Rome.

- identity and learnedly discuss iconography and types of objects that comprised early collections.

- critically analyse contemporary and modern writing relating to the history of collecting.

- critically examine methodological issues of using primary source material for interpreting the collecting and display of art.

- critically employ primary source materials for interpreting early collecting and display.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
Display of Art in the Roman Palace, 1550-1750	Feigenbaum, Gail, with Francesco Freddolini, eds.	The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, 2014	978-1-60606-298-2

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number
Federico Borromeo: Sacred Painting and Museum	Borromeo, Federico; Rothwell, Kenneth S., trans. and ed.	Harvard University Press, 2010	978-0-674-04758-7
Critical Perspectives on Roman Baroque Sculpture	Colantuono, Anthony, and Steven F. Ostrow, eds.	Pennsylvania State University Press, 2014	978-0-271-06172-6
Sacred Possessions: Collecting Italian Religious Art, 1500-1900	Feigenbaum, Gail, and Sybille Evert-Schifferer, eds.	Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, 2011	978-1-60606-042-1
Empire Without End: Antiquities Collections in Renaissance Rome, c. 1350-1527	Wren Christian, Kethleen	Yale University Press, 2010	978-0-300-15421-4
The Lure of Antiquity and the Cult of the Machine	Bredekamp, Horst	Markus Wiener Publishers, 1995	1-55876-094-6

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Attendance and Participation		20%
Lead discussant of assigned readings		15%
Midterm “collection” preliminary research Presentation		15%
Final Research Presentation		20%
Interpretive Research Paper (10-12 pages), possibly derived from midterm presentation		30%

-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 cou
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:

One unexcused absence is permitted (but highly discourages) without grade penalty. You are still responsible for the content of the missed meeting, which may include a site-based writing assignment. Three late arrivals (“tardies”) count as one unexcused absence. Please note that being physically present in all class sessions (or missing 1 session) will only result in a grade of C+ for Participation/Attendance. If you strive for a higher grade, you must participate in discussions and complete in-class work.

Please refer to the university catalog for further information on the attendance and absence policy.

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

Session	Session Focus	Reading Assignment	Other Assignment
	TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Mtg 1, January 21	Introduction to course, syllabus, assignments;	Background reading to be completed during the first few days: Oxford Art on-line entries: “Collecting”, “Display of Art”, and “Museum”	JCU campus
Mtg 2, January 28	Art History and the Museum: the rise of the history of collecting	Bann, Stephen. "Art History and Museums." The Subject of Art History: Historical Objects in Contemporary Perspectives. 1998: 230-49.; Feigenbaum, Gail. "Introduction: Art and Display in Principle and in Practice." The Display of Art in the Roman Palace, 1550-1750. Los Angeles, The Getty Research Institute. 2014: 1-24; Haskell, Francis. "Museums and Their Enemies." Journal of Aesthetic Education 19.2 (1985): 13-22.	JCU Campus
Mtg 3, February 4	What constitutes a collection? Early collections: Kunstkammer, Wunderkammer, Sacristy, antiquities collection	Section from Bredekamp, Horst. The Lure of Antiquity and the Cult of the Machine. 1995: 1-62; Bann, Stephen. "Shrines, Curiosities, and the Rhetoric of Display." Visual Display: Culture Beyond Appearances. Eds. Cooke, Lynne and Peter Wollen. Seattle: Bay Press, 1995: pp. 14-29; Sections from Wren Christian, Kathleen. Empire without End: Antiquities Collections in Renaissance Rome, C. 1350-1527. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2010: Intro (1-11; Catalogue entries: 23 Palazzo Medici, 16 Colonna, 13 Agostino Chigi)	JCU Campus, then move to Palazzo Altemps
February 6-7 (Friday-Saturday)	FLORENCE overnight trip
Mtg 4, February 11	Early collections: the palace and the casa in the 16th-17th centuries	Cappelletti, Francesca. Chapter 5: "Cardinals, Cardinal-Nephews, and Aristocratic Collectors," and Cavazzini, Patrizia, Chapter 6: "Lesser Nobility and Other People of Means,", The Display of Art in the Roman Palace, 1550-1750. Los Angeles, The Getty Research Institute. 2014: 78-88, 89-112.	JCU Campus
Mtg 5, February 18	The models for the ideal/appropriate collections: Federico Borromeo, "Museum" (1625); and Giuliio Mancini.	Borromeo, Federico, "Museum" (1625), translated by K. Rothwell, Jr. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2010; Gage, Francis. "Teaching Them to Obey and Serve: Giulio Mancini on Collecting Religious Art in Seventeenth-Century Rome." Sacred Possessions: Collecting Italian Religious Art, 1500-1900, eds. Gail Feigenbaum and Sybille Ebert-Schifferer. Los Angeles, Getty Research Institute, 2011: 68-83; Gage, Francis. Chapter 12: "Observing Order. Art and Display in Principle and in Practice." The Display of Art in the Roman Palace, 1550-1750. Los Angeles, The Getty Research Institute. 2014: 204-214.	JCU Campus
Mtg 6, February 25	Collecting Caravaggio	Von Rosen, Valeska. "Implicit Decontextualization: Visual Discourse of Religious Paintings in Roman Collections circa 1600." and Olson, Todd. "Caravaggio's Dispossession and Defamation." Sacred Possessions: Collecting Italian Religious Art, 1500-1900, eds. Gail Feigenbaum and Sybille Ebert-Schifferer. Los Angeles, Getty Research Institute, 2011: 39-54, 55-67.	JCU Campus, then move to Palazzo Corsini
Mtg 7 (DATE TBA)	Vatican Museums	Ago, Renata. "Splendor and Magnificence." and Collins, Jeffrey. "The Papal Model." The Display of Art in the Roman Palace, 1550-1750. Los Angeles, The Getty Research Institute. 2014: 62-72, 73-75; Sections from Wren Christian, Kathleen. Empire without End: Antiquities Collections in Renaissance Rome, C. 1350-1527. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2010: 157-67; Catalogue entry: 3 Belvedere.	Vatican Museums
Mtg 8, March 11	Christian and "Pagan" Antiquities collections in Palaces	Herklotz, Ingo. "Antiquities in the Palaces: Aristocratic, Antiquarian, and Religious." The Display of Art in the Roman Palace, 1550-1750. Los Angeles, The Getty Research Institute. 2014: 234-249.	Palazzo Doria-Pamphili
Mtg 9, March 18	MIDTERM “collection” preliminary research PRESENTATIONS		JCU Campus
Mtg 10, March 25	NO MEETING	Class time used for required overnight trip to Florence, Feb 6-7
Mtg 11, April 1 (moved from Mtg 7)	The "Paper Museum" of Cassiano dal Pozzo and the "Galleria" of Vincenzo Giustiniani	Amanda Claridge. "Archaeologies, Antiquaries and the 'Memorie' of 16th- and 17th- Century Rome," Archives & Excavations: Essays on the History of Archaeological Excavations in Rome and Southern Italy from the Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century. Ed. Bignamini, Ilaria. London: British School in Rome, 2004; Moormann, Eric M. "A Predecessor of Alinari: Cassiano Dal Pozzo and His ‘Paper Museum’." Journal of Roman Archaeology 14 (2001): 703-9; Cropper, Elizabeth, and Charles Dempsey. "Vincenzo Giustiniani’s Galleria: A Taste for Style and an Inclination to Pleasure." Nicolas Poussin: Friendship and the Love of Painting. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1996: 64-105.	JCU Campus
April 8	NO MEETING	SPRING BREAK
Mtg 12, April 15	Galleria Borghese	Strunck, Christina. "The Poisoned Gift: A new Reading of Gianlorenzo Bernini's Rape of Proserpina." Critical Perspectives on Baroque Sculpture, eds. Ostrow and Colantuono. University Park, Pennsylvania University Press, 2014: 185-202; Paul, Carole. The Borghese Collections and the Display of Art in the Age of the Grand Tour. Ahsgate, 2008; Warwick, Genevieve. “Speaking Statues: Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne at the Villa Borghese.” Art History 27.3 (June 2004): 353-81.	JCU Campus
Mtg 13, April 22	Capitoline Museums	Sections from Wren Christian, Kathleen. Empire without End: Antiquities Collections in Renaissance Rome, C. 1350-1527. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2010: 91-119. Ramage, Nancy. “Restorer and Collector: Notes on Eighteenth-Century Recreations of Roman Statues.” Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome. Supplementary Volumes, Vol. 1, The Ancient Art of Emulation: Studies in Artistic Originality and Tradition from the Present to Classical Antiquity (2002): 61-77.	Capitoline Museums
Mtg 14, April 29	Students Research Presentations		JCU Campus
FINAL EXAM time slot	Student Research Presentations		JCU Campus