FA005: Introduction to Medieval Art and Architecture

Course Information

Class Schedule: Fall 1996


Lecture Schedule 
        
Week I  Chronology of the Middle Ages
Aug. 28 History of the Church
                Techniques and media of medieval painting (wall painting, mosaic,
                illumination, stained glass)
                Workbook Units 1A, 1B, 50, 51
                Section:  Media: Ex. 51
                W section: Critical Reading: Painting

Week II Methods: manuals, sketchbooks, and the concept of copying
Sept. 4 Iconic and narrative traditions
                Iconography: Old and New Testament subject matter and typology;
                The Life of Christ
                Workbook Units 52, 53, 54, 56
                Section:  Ex. 53, 56
                W Section:  Critical Reading, Painting

Week III        Iconography continued:  The Saints, Secular Themes, Portraits, 
Sept. 11        Symbols
                Introduction to Style:  Concepts of stylistic analysis
                Early Christian and Early Medieval
                Workbook Units 55, 57, 58, 59, 101, 102, 103
                Section:  non-biblical subjects; style. Ex. 58, 59, 103
                W Section: Critical Reading: Painting

Week IV Style continued, Carolingian through Pre-Romanesque 
Sept. 18        Workbook Units 104, 105, 106, 107
                Section: use of manuscript facsimiles in Frick Fine Arts Library
                W Section: Discussion of Painting Written Paper
                W Section:  First Draft of Painting Paper due Sept. 20

Week V  Style Continued, Romanesque and Gothic
Sept. 25        Non-figurative elements of style
                Workbook Units 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113
                Section:  Style. Ex. 104, 105, 107, 109, 113 
                Regular Section:  Written paper for Painting due Sept. 27
                W Section: review of painting written paper
                W Section: Revised paper due Sept. 27

Week VI Introduction to architecture: architectural style
Oct. 2          Plans and their development
                Workbook Units 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D
                Section:  Chart of plans and summary of developments
                W Section: Critical Reading: Architecture

Week VII        
Oct. 9          MIDTERM
                Section:  Chart of elevations and summary of developments
                W Section:  Critical Reading:  Architecture


Lecture Schedule, cont.
Week VIII       Elevations and their development
Oct. 16 Vaulting and its development
                Workbook Units 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D
                Section:  Chart of vaulting and summary of developments
                W Section: discussion of Architecture Written Paper

Week IX Other structural elements:  towers, buttressing, articulation
Oct. 23 Decorative elements in architecture:  arch forms, tracery,
                capitals, exterior sculpture
                Workbook Units 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B, 7C
                Section:  Recognition of parts and their analysis; visit to neo-
                medieval buildings in Pittsburgh
                W Section: discussion of Architecture Written Paper             
                W Section: First draft of Architecture Written Paper due Oct. 25

Week X  Secular architecture
Oct. 30 Problems in medieval architecture
                The Master Mason:  sources of evidence
                Workbook Units 8, 9A, 9B, 9C
                Section:  Recognition and analysis of styles as a whole
                Regular Section: Written paper for architecture due Nov. 1
                W Section: Review of architecture written paper
                W Section: Revised paper due Nov. 1

Week XI Sculpture: media, techniques, context
Nov. 6          Workbook Units 20, 21, 60
                Section:  three-dimensional and two dimensional form; 
                Ex. 20, 60
                W Section: Critical Reading: Sculpture

Week XII        Style: Early Christian, Early Medieval, Carolingian, Ottonian 
Nov. 13 Workbook Units 30, 31, 32, 33
                Section:  Iconography and style in sculpture visit to Carnegie
                Institute of Art, sculpture hall and medieval gallery
                W Section: Critical Reading: Sculpture

Week XIII       Style: Romanesque: Early Gothic: Transitional, c. 1200 
Nov. 20 Workbook Units 34, 35, 36
                Section:  Style Ex. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36
                W Section: discussion of Sculpture Written Paper 
                W Section: First Draft of Sculpture Written Paper due Nov. 25

Week XIV        Style:  High and Late Gothic: 13th c., 14th c., c. 1400
Dec. 4          Workbook Units 37, 38, 39
                Section:  Style Ex. 37, 38, 39
                Regular Section:  Sculpture Written Paper due Dec. 6
                W Section: review of Sculpture Written Paper
                W Section: Revised paper due Dec. 6

Week XV 
Dec. 11 FINAL 

Return to Main