JCU Logo

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 298-2"
COURSE NAME: "Baroque Rome and Its Monuments (Rome City Series)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Anna Tuck-Scala
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: M2:15 PM 5:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: On-site; activity fee: €25 or $33
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Rome City Series - This on-site course in Rome covers monuments of the seventeenth century (later known as the "baroque" period). Rome is the city where the baroque style originated and flourished, and it is the ideal place to study some of the most significant works of painting, sculpture, architecture, and urban planning from ca. 1580-to ca. 1750. We will critically examine major works by Annibale Carracci, Caravaggio, Artemisia Gentileschi, Domenichino, Lanfranco, Pietro da Cortona, Andrea Sacchi, and especially Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. The following are some important aspects of baroque art, which we will have the opportunity to study more effectively on-site than in the classroom: style, technique, scale, collocation, urban context, effects on the viewer (for example, theatrical squares, fountains, illusionist ceiling frescoes, fake domes). We will discuss artistic theory, concerns for decorum, the "affetti", classicism vs. naturalism, parallels between poetry and painting, papal patronage, and psychological and feminist interpretations of artists. The Counter-Reformation and the Catholic Revival, papal propaganda and nepotism, the powerful new orders, such as the Jesuits, as well as Queen Christina of Sweden's life, will be investigated.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

--To gain a thorough and intimate knowledge of seventeenth-century painting, sculpture and architecture of the Roman Baroque, and, at the same time, learn about the period's political, social and cultural context.

--To become trained in viewing and analyzing works of art in their original location.

--To acquire a deeper understanding of Rome.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

---Students will obtain extensive knowledge of seventeenth-century art and culture, and become skilled in analyzing original works of art on-site in a critical manner. Students will be able to guide others to view many of the most well-known monuments in Rome.

TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
General requriementsThis is an upper-level art history course. No distinction is made between art and non-art majors in class. Grading is not based on a curve. All students are expected to come to every class and meet on time, keep up with the assigned reading, and complete all assignments and take exams on schedule. Grades will be lowered for non-compliance and unexcused absences. Specific guidelines for all assignments and exams will be provided, and graded accordingly. Students are responsible for contacting the professor immediately if any questions or problems arise. Any student who has a need for accomodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the professor privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible at the beginning of the course. The requred documentation should be on file. Please see the website for the complete policy.  
Three viewing assignments Each viewing assignment is 4 pages long (1,000 words) and due at the beginning of classs on the day of discussion (see schedule). They must be well-written to earn a grade in the A range. 15% (5% each)
On-site presentationA brief presentation (about 10 minutes) will be given on-site. The topic and date will be chosen by the student from a list of options.15%
Midterm and Final examsSpecific guidelines for the exams will be provided, as well as images on-line. The final exam is not cumulative. 50%= Midterm (20%) Final exam (30%)
Participation and improvementRegular and punctual class attendance is mandatory. Viewing and discussing works of art on-site will be the highlight of the course. Even if students have studied the course material before, it is expected that students will attend class and learn something new. It is essential to come to class on time, and bring student IDs for discounts when possible. In churches, we must behave respectfully and be dressed appropriately (no sleeveless shirts, mini-skirts, shorts, hats or flip-flops). Visits to other sites in Rome will be recommended, and students should take advantage of Italy's incomparable artistic wealth by visiting other cities with seventeenth-century art, especially Naples, Bologna, Genoa and Turin. To earn a high grade it is necessary to be actively engaged and participate regularly in class discussions. 20%

-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:

REGULAR AND PUNCTUAL CLASS ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. ABSENCES ARE EXCUSED ONLY WITH OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION OF ILLNESS OR EMERGENCY.

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

SessionSession FocusReading AssignmentOther AssignmentMeeting Place/Exam Dates
Monday, January 19, 2015 (meeting place/classroom to be announced)INTRODUCTION TO COURSE SYLLABUSBackground information: Wittkower, vol. I, Introduction, chapter 1  
Monday, January 26, 2015 (meet at entrance to Vatican Museums)RENAISSANCE VS. BAROQUE. THE CONCEPT OF MANNERISM. Vatican pinacoteca, masterpieces of ancient sculpture, Raphael's "School of Athens", Michelangelo's "Sistine Ceiling"Panofsky, "What is Baroque?"  
Monday, February 2, 2015 (meet at entrance to Doria-Pamphilj Gallery)THE CARRACCI REFORM 0F PAINTING, CARAVAGGIO'S EARLY PAINTING, PAMPHILJ PATRONAGEWittkower, vol. I, chapters 2 and 3. For Alessandro Algardi, Wittkower, vol. I, chapter 5, pp. 88-94. Feigenbaum, "Practice in the Carracci Academy"  
Monday, February 9, 2015 (meet at entrance to church of San Luigi dei Francesi)CARAVAGGIO'S MATURE WORKS (PAINTINGS IN CHURCHES: SAN LUIGI DEI FRANCESI, SANTA MARIA DEL POPOLO, SANT'AGOSTINO)Excerpts from seventeenth-century sources: Letter by Giustiniani to Amayden Giovanni Battista Agucchi "Treatise on Painting" Giovanni Pietro Bellori, "The Idea of the Painter, the Sculptor and the Architect" Giovanni Pietro Bellori, "Life of Caravaggio"  
Monday, February 16, 2015 (meet in front of church of San Luigi dei Francesi)THE CARAVAGGISTI, THE SPECIAL CASE OF ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI, THE BOLOGNESE ARTISTS IN ROME (Domenichino's "Saint Cecilia" frescoes in San Luigi dei Francesi; Domenichino and Lanfranco's frescoes in San Andrea della Valle)Cavazzini, "Artemisia in Her Father's House" Wittkower , vol. I, chapter 4, pp. 41-58. vol. II, chapter 8, pp. 160-166VIEWING ASSIGNMENT OF THE SPADA GALLERY DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS. ATTACH TICKET STUB. 
Monday, February 23, 2015 ((meet in classroom at 1:30 pm)GIANLORENZO BERNINI'S EARLY SCULPTURE; VILLA BORGHESE GALLERY; BAROQUE ART AND PATRONAGE OF CARDINAL SCIPIONE BORGHESEWittkower, vol. II, chapter 1 (Introduction), chapter 2, pp. 5-23  
Monday, March 2, 2015 (meet near Triton fountain in center of Piazza Barberini)ANDREA SACCHI AND PIETRO DA CORTONA; POPE URBAN VIII AND BARBERINI PATRONAGE (PALAZZO BARBERINI)Haskell, "The Mechanics of Seventeenth-Century Patronage" Vitzthum, "A Comment on the Iconography of Pietro da Cortona's Barberini Ceiling" Wittkower, vol. II, chapter 4, pp. 74-84; chapter 5, pp. 85-88VIEWING ASSIGNMENT ON PALAZZO BARBERINI DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS. ATTACH TICKET STUB. 
Monday, March 9, 2015 (neet in classroom at 1:30 pm)MIDTERM EXAM  MIDTERM March 9, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015 (meet near obelisk in center of Saint Peter's square)THE DEVELOPMENT OF BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE: CARLO MADERNO AND BERNINI; BASILICA AND PIAZZA DI SAN PIETROWittkower, vol. I, chapter 6, pp. 75-79, vol. II, chapter 2, pp. 33-38  
Monday, March 23, 2015 (meet by the Trevi Fountain)BERNINI VS. BORROMINI (Churches: SS. Vincenzo ed Anastasio by Martino Longhi the Younger; Sant'Andrea al Quirinale by Bernini; San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane by Borromini; Santa Susanna facade by Carlo Maderno; Santa Maria della Vittoria with "Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" in the Cornaro Chapel by Bernini)Lavin, "Bernini's Conception of the Visual Arts: 'Un Bel Composto" Wittkower, vol II, chapter 2, pp. 23-33, chapter 3, pp. 39-45, pp. 106-107TICKET STUBS FROM THE BORGHESE GALLERY ARE DUE 
Monday, March 30, 2015 (meet near the Four Rivers Fountain by Bernini in the center of Piazza Navona)BERNINI AND BORROMINI CONTINUED; PAMPHILJ PATRONAGE CONTINUED; PIETRO DA CORTONA (Pietro da Cortona's facade of Santa Maria della Pace, and frescoed ceiling in the Chiesa Nuova; Borromini's facade of the Oratorio dei Filippini; Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza; Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona; Sant'Agnese in Agone)Connors, "Ars Tornandi: Baroque Architecture and the Lathe" Excerpt of Baldinucci's Life of Bernini Wittkower, vol. II, chapter 3, pp. 45-62; chapter 4, pp. 63-65, 70-74VIEW INTERIOR OF SANT'IVO ALLA SAPIENZA (open Sundays, 9 am to noon) 
Mohday, April 6, 2015 NO CLASS (PASQUETTA AND SPRING VACATION)    
Monday, April 13, 2015 (meet outside entrance to Sant'Ignazio church)THE JESUITS; LATE BAROQUE ILLUSIONISTIC CEILING PAINTINGS (Il Gesù Church: G.B. Gaulli/Baciccia, "Adoration of the Name of Jesus"; Elephant obelisk, Sant'Ignazio Church: A. Pozzo, "Allegory of the Missionary Work of the Jesuits"; Piazza Sant'Ignazio, Santa Maria in Via Lata facade; San Marcello al Corso facade)Wittkower, vol. II, chapter 3, pp. 134-145  
Monday, April 20, 2015 (meet near obelisk at center of Piazza del Popolo)LATE BAROQUE MONUMENTS AND SQUARES (Piazza del Popolo, Sant'Andrea della Fratte, Collegio di Propaganda Fide, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain)Wittkower, vol. III, chapter 1 (Introduction), chapter 2, pp. 5-17  
Monday, April 27, 2015 (meet in classroom at 1:30 pm)BAROQUE CONTEXT OF TRASTEVERE, SOME MONUMENTS IN THE VICINITY OF JCU (Corsini Gallery(Queen Christina of Sweden's residence, Stefano Maderno's "Santa Cecilia" in Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Bernini's "Blessed Ludovica Albertoni" in San Francesco a Ripa)Montanari, "Bellori and Christina of Sweden"VIEWING ASSIGNMENT ON SANT'IVO ALLA SAPIENZA AND SANT'ANDREA AL QUIRINALE iS DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.. 
DATE TO BE ANNOUNCEDFINAL EXAM  TO BE ANNOUNCED