Basic knowledge in humanities. No other prerequisite is requested.

The course provides a basic knowledge of the history of medieval art in the Mediterranean context, focusing on the cultural spheres of artistic production in the Middle Ages and on the basic issues of periodization and historiography. The course also aims to provide the tools for a correct analysis of major works of art, as well as a good command of vocabulary in the field. Some of the most significant medieval monuments in the Salento area, i.e., those with a greater vocation for tourism, will be examined in depth.

Students must acquire a basic knowledge of the evolution of mediaeval art and develop the ability to fully understand the problems of periodisation and the most important historiographical issues; they must be able to define the cultural spheres of artistic production in the Middle Ages, know the most representative works and be able to recognise, contextualise, analyse and discuss them with a good command of vocabulary and autonomous judgement.

With particular reference to the Dublin Descriptors, students are expected to acquire the following skills:

Knowledge and understanding:

• knowledge of artistic production in the Middle Ages;
• historical and stylistic understanding of the most important works of art/monuments.

Applying knowledge and understanding:

• ability to identify the cultural context of less-known works of art/monuments;
• skills in technical, iconographic and stylistic analysis of the artwork(s)/monument(s).

Making judgements:

• ability to autonomously research of works of art/monuments and/or historical-artistic contexts on Internet and/or in the areas related to the Middle Ages.

Communication skills:

• ability to reframe and summarise discussion on works of art/monuments in English.

Learning skills:

• ability to update and develop English language and subject skills through autonomous work and collaborative learning.

Among the transversal skills developed and expected at the end of the course are: the ability to analyse and synthesise information acquired during the lessons and/or gathered independently and from various sources (books, internet, themed cultural programmes, etc.); the ability to solve problems; the ability to critically discuss the concepts learnt and to effectively convey them to an audience that is varied in terms of origin, age and cultural level.

The course will develop with face-to-face lectures during which powerpoint presentations will be projected which will be available to students on the https://elearning.unisalento.it platform.

How to book the date of final exam: booking only via VOL (Portale Studenti).

Student assessments: the final exam is oral with the possibility of non-compulsory intermediate written tests on major topics which will be define during lessons. Non-compulsory intermediate written tests are reserved for attending students (at least 75% attendance).

The assessment criteria are elated to: accuracy in the discussion; a secure knowledge of topics; exposition and contents; ability to autonomously identify relations between artistic facts, people, and places in the art of the Middle Ages.

These assessment methods ascertain the achievement of the expected learning outcomes and in particular of the specific competences described in the Course objectives.

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Course week timetable:

MON 12PM-2PM

THU 10AM-1PM

The exam commetee is composed of: Manuela De Giorgi (Chief), Daniela Caracciolo, Raffaele Casciaro, Lucinia Speciale (Members).

Students may book the date for the final exam only using VOL system.

The teacher is available for meetings by appointment (please, send an email to manuela.degiorgi@unisalento.it).

The teaching programme of the course will develop the following topics:

• • introduction to Early Christianity and the Age of Constantine: Christian basilicas; early Christian architecture;
  • catacombs and sarcophagi; monumental decoration of sacred spaces;
  • Byzantium-‘New Rome’: the Age of Justinian; Ravenna: the art of mosaic and the ‘Byzantine’ Italy;
  • the art(s) of the ‘Barbarians’ in Europe;
  • Carolingian Renaissance and Ottonian art; illuminated manuscripts and minor arts (8th-11th century);
  • the evolving concept of ‘sacred image’; European art between Byzantine Christianity and Islamic influence;
  • the raise of Romanesque architecture; Romanesque art and architecture in Italy: a ‘new’ geography;
  • sculpture and monumental decoration in Romanesque period;
  • pilgrimage and art in the Middle Ages.
  • the origins of Gothic art;
  • early Gothic sculpture and architecture in France and England; early Gothic art in Italy;
  • mature Gothic art in Italy: the role of Franciscans and Dominicans;
  • Italian Duecento painting (monumental and on wood);
  • Trecento Italian art.

Compulsory textbook:

M. Stokstad, Medieval Art, 2nd ed., Boulder: Westview Press, 2004 (please note that from Ch. 9/p 227 onwards – Gothic Art – only selected parts will be chosen).

Secondary bibliography (only one out of the two):

L. Safran, «Byzantine South Italy. New light on the oldest wall paintings», in Byzantinische Malerei, ed. G. Koch, Wiesbaden: Reichert, 2000 (Spätantike, frühes Christentum, Byzanz, Bande 7), pp. 257-274;

C. Vernon, «Pseudo-Arabic and the Material Culture of the First Crusade in Norman Italy: The Sanctuary Mosaic at San Nicola in Bari», in Open Library of Humanities, 4.1: 36 (2018), pp. 1-43, DOI: https://doi.org/10.16995/olh.252