Learning objectives
The history of art and architecture are essential in the intellectual development and in the practise of architecture. The major aim of the course is to enable the student to make judgment, have an historical and bibliographic instruments to be able to analyse and understand movements, effects and protagonists (architects, artists, patrons, benefits, etc) of this fundamental period (first Dublin Descriptor). To achieve this aim it’s necessary to always use multiple approaches and different methods of analysis observing the Unity of History (second Dublin Descriptor).
Undergraduate shall be able to: use the acquired knowledge to make personal and mature judgements (third Dublin Descriptor); use the appropriate technical language (fourth Dublin Descriptor); establish logical connections between topics; read the complexity of architecture (fifth Dublin Descriptor).
Course unit content
Aim of the course is to offer a complete outline of western art and architecture from XVIII to XX century; the course offers new keys to interpret the world and the role of art and architecture in the society.
Bibliography
HANDBOOKS:
• L. BENEVOLO, Storia dell’architettura del Rinascimento, Bari-Roma, Laterza, favoured ed.: 2008;
• D. WATKIN, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, favoured italian ed.: Bologna, Zanichelli, 2007 (or subsequent editions), chapts. 6-7;
• N. PEVSNER, Storia dell’architettura europea, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1966 (or subsequent editions)., chapts. 5-7;
• B. JESTAZ, Il Rinascimento dell’architettura da Brunelleschi a Palladio, Milano, Electa-Gallimard, 1995 (or subsequent editions).
MONOGRAPHS:
A. Groups of texts on Renaissance:
1. Brunelleschi e Alberti (pp. 38-165), in F.P. FIORE (a cura di), Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il Quattrocento, Milano, Electa, 1998;
2. Introduzione and chapters about Rome (pp. 9-159), in A. BRUSCHI (a cura di), Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il primo Cinquecento, Milano, Electa, 2002;
3. J. ACKERMANN, Palladio, Torino, Einaudi, 1972 (or subsequent editions).
B. Groups of monographs on Baroque:
4. R. WITTKOWER, Arte e architettura in Italia 1600-1750, Torino, Einaudi, 1972 o segg. (only the chapters on architecture) + images of R. TOMAN (a cura di), Barocco. Architettura, pittura scultura, Köln-Milano, Könemann, 1999;
5. First chapters (pp. 9-99) and essays on Bernini, Borromini and Pietro da Cortona (pp. 146-209), in A. SCOTTI TOSINI (a cura di), Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il Seicento, Milano, Electa, 2003;
6. First chapters(pp. 9-99) and essays on Emilia Romagna (pp. 336-391), in A. SCOTTI TOSINI (a cura di), Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il Seicento, Milano, Electa, 2003.
C. Groups of monographs on 18th Century:
7. J. STAROBINSKY, La scoperta della libertà 1700-1789, Genève, Skira, 1964;
8. First chapters (pp. XI-133), in G. CURCIO, E. KIEVEN (a cura di), Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il Settecento, Milano, Electa, 2000;
9. Guglielmo Du Tillot regista delle arti nell’età dei Lumi, catalogo della mostra (Parma, palazzo Bossi Bocchi, 28 ottobre-27 gennaio 2013), a cura di G. Fiaccadori, A. Malinverni, C. Mambriani, Parma, DICATeA-Fondazione Cariparma, 2012.
Teaching methods
Teacher orientated lessons with slides and documentary films; possibility to visit museums and monumental sites; possibility of seminars with external experts.
Attendance is highly recommended because contents of the course are necessary to take for some following exams. Students unable to attend (with certificate reasons such as work) have to contact the teacher to agree on a proper bibliography.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination, if necessary elementary sketch exemplifications, descriptions of photos or drawings of buildings, details, architectural sculptures, etc. The first set of questions tends to evaluate the basic knowledge of the program and basic ability to establish logical connections between topics. The second set of questions checks strictly the criticism, the correct use of the appropriate language (fourth Dublin Descriptor), and the ability to establish logical connections between topics and of reading the complexity of architecture (fifth Dublin Descriptor).
