Courses
Undergraduate Courses
ARTH 100 Survey of Western Art I
This course is the first half of a two-part survey designed to introduce students to the historical and intellectual content of Western art. The class focuses on painting, sculpture and architecture from the Paleolithic to the late Gothic period in Europe as presented in terms of history, style, meaning and social context.
ARTH 110 Survey of Western Art II
This course is the second half of a two-part survey designed to introduce students to the historical and intellectual content of Western art. The class focuses on painting, sculpture and architecture from the Renaissance to the Modern period in Europe and the Americas as presented in terms of history, style, meaning and social context. Prerequisite: ARTH 100.
ARTH 204 17th-century Art
This course introduces students to the art and architecture of 17th and 18th-century Europe, particular the art of Italy, Spain, France, Flanders and the Dutch Republic. Individual artists are considered in view of their particular contributions to their cultures as well as their international influence. The course examines the relationship between science, religion, politics and the arts during this critical phase of history. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 205 19th-century Art
This course analyzes the innovative forms of art and culture that led to new ways for artists to view society and their place within it. Consideration is given to the influences of technology, politics, literature and music on painting and sculpture. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 207 20th-century Art
This course provides an in-depth analysis of the work of such revolutionary 20th-century artists as Matisse, Picasso, Duchamp, Pollock, Smithson and Beuys. A series of lectures is accompanied by slides and class discussions. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 209 Renaissance Art
This course provides an overview of the Renaissance, focusing on the role of patronage, the purpose and function of major works of the period, and the materials and techniques used. Students explore the artistic achievements of the Renaissance and explore connections to the period’s continuing impact on today’s art. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 212 18-century Art
With emphasis on the art of France, Spain, England, and Italy, the objective of this course is to educate the student on the art produced in 18th-century Europe. Distinction is made between the various stylistic periods that occurred during this century, namely the Rococo, Neoclassical, and Romantic periods. Art is discussed within its cultural and historical context with an emphasis on visual analysis. A research paper based on 18th-century art is required and introduces the student to effective research and writing skills. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 220 Survey of Asian Art
This course introduces students to the arts of India, China and Japan, with particular attention to technique, style, content and the role of the arts in Asian cultures. Lectures are focused on major topics. No familiarity with Asian studies is required. Foreign names and terms are de-emphasized in favor of general knowledge of the cultures and arts studied. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 226 American Art
This course offers a broad survey of American art, emphasizing painting and sculpture, yet covering other cultural manifestations as well. The social, political and intellectual contexts for the artworks are given strong consideration. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 240 Treasures of Provence
This course enables students to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the rich artistic traditions and the fascinating history of Provence. Class discussion and site visits focus on many of the art collections and architectural monuments found throughout southern France. Class assignments and research projects provide students the opportunity to complement their major or pursue areas of personal interest. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 250 Art Historical Methods
Undergraduate art history majors and minors are introduced to the fundamentals of visual description and analysis, academic research and writing, and the history of art history and a selection of its methodologies. Prerequisite: ARTH 110.
ARTH 255 French Modernism
During the 19th century, Paris was the center for artistic change in Europe. This course explores the works and theories of major French painters, sculptors and architects, with special consideration given to history and the emerging technologies. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 265 Survey of New Media Art
This course introduces students to the breadth of new media in the digital and imaging arts and the recent history of artistic exploration into these media. Underscoring this survey is the concept that new media have forced art history into expanding the canon and its criteria for examining art. In particular, this course surveys their evolution out of traditional media. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 271 Art of China
This survey of Chinese art begins with the period of Neolithic ceramics, ritual bronze vessels, early pictorial art, Buddhist sculpture and architecture, and ink monochrome landscape painting and moves to the self-expressionistic paintings of the literati amateur tradition. The course provides an exploration of the content, style and role of the arts within the framework of Chinese culture and history. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 281 Ancient Art and Architecture
This course examines the formative and historical relationships between art and culture in ancient Mediterranean civilizations. Works of art and architecture are analyzed using a variety of archaeological and art historical approaches. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 282 Medieval Art and Architecture
This course traces the development of the major artistic styles of the Middle Ages (Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic) as manifested in architecture, sculpture, painting and “minor” art forms such as manuscript illumination. The social and political currents of the times are also explored. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 283 Myth, Bible and Symbol in Art
The purpose of this course is to help students identify major mythological, biblical and symbolic themes in Western art. Students read excerpts from mythological and biblical literature and discuss their depiction in major works of art. Cultural symbols in art are also considered. This course is designed to further prepare student artists to incorporate and reinterpret these cultural resources in their own work and recognize it in the works of other artists. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 287 Ethnographic Art
The art and architectural traditions of Africa, native North America, Oceania, pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and/or South America are introduced. Lectures primarily focus on content, context, style, technique, and the role of art and architecture in these cultures, with some discussion concerning the interaction of these traditions with Western art and architectural styles. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 295 Off-campus Special Topics in Art History
The topic of this course, as well as its location, varies from quarter to quarter. Each class focuses on various issues in the art history field, giving students an opportunity to pursue individual projects related to the subject of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.
ARTH 300 Censored Art through 1945
Art has been and continues to be an arena for society’s expression of itself and its values. Throughout history, works of art that were deemed threatening to the status quo have been censored, whether for stylistic or thematic reasons. This course examines specific works of art that have been censored in European and American art through 1945. Prerequisite: ARLH 208 or ARTH 207.
ARTH 303 Contemporary African Art
This course examines the powerful influence of Western arts and culture on art and artists of Africa. The course seeks to establish the veracity of the concept termed “Reciprocity or Symbiotic Existences” between cultures and in the process, portray the reality in African art. The influence of African art on Western European art and culture has been exhaustively published, but not much has been said about the reciprocal gesture of Western arts. This course progresses along a structured path that guides the student from authentic traditional art/culture through the transitional and to the Modern/Contemporary; at which stage, Western arts and culture replaces the religious-spiritual-functional arts of traditional, or ancient Africa. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 311 Art and Architecture of India
This course surveys the architecture, painting and sculpture of the Indian subcontinent. The work is studied in context, with discussions of how Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Muslim religions relate to the artistic production of the society. The purposes and functions of the various temples, sculptures and paintings are emphasized, and students gain an overall awareness of the different uses of art in India versus the West. Literary texts provide a contextual background. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 312 Latin American Art
This course explores issues in Latin American art history. The course concentrates on selected aspects of Latin American art, from the Pre-Columbian to contemporary 20th-century period. Specific areas covered include: pre-Columbian and colonial Mexico and Peru, images of revolution and independence, and 20th-century images from Mexico and South America as well as the artistic production of Latin American and Chicana/o artists in the United States. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 326 Early Medieval Art and Architecture of Western Europe
This course traces the development of the major artistic styles of the early Middle Ages (Hiberno-Saxon, Carolingian, Ottonian, Anglo-Saxon) as manifested in architecture, sculpture, painting and “minor” art forms such as manuscript illumination. The social and political currents of the times are also explored. Prerequisites: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 333 Egyptian Art and Archaeology
This course examines the artistic contribution of the ancient Egyptian civilization over a chronological continuum of more than three millennia, from the Predynastic cultures in the North and South through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Special attention is given to current archaeological discoveries in Egypt, the importance of hieroglyphs in the understanding of Egyptian art, and the phenomenon of Egyptianization throughout the history of Western art. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 335 Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture
This course examines the major developments in the visual arts from 313 A.D. to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. Works of painting, sculpture, luxury arts and architecture are analyzed in terms of style and meaning (iconography), with an emphasis on the social and historical context in which these pieces were produced. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 337 Quattrocento Art
The focus of this course is on the works produced by great 15th-century Italian artists and architects such as Brunelleschi, Donatello, Masaccio, Leon Alberti, Andrea Mantegna and Sandra Botticelli. By examining their techniques, the patrons and the cultural considerations that informed their works, this course shows that the Italian Renaissance was more than a rebirth of ideals and art of classical antiquity. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 340 Art Since 1945
This course is a chronological survey of major theory, art movements and monuments from 1945 to the present. Each student is expected to develop verbal and written skills in discussing contemporary art and to learn to identify significant characteristics of art of the recent past and the present. This course is intended to promote the student’s understanding of artistic style and to expand knowledge of the debates regarding contemporary critical theory and art criticism. Prerequisite: ARTH 207.
ARTH 342 Art and Spirituality
The late 19th-century and early 20th-century witnessed the development of consciously abstracted and deliberately spiritual approaches to painting and sculpture in Europe. The most important styles, groups and artists of this trend include Symbolism, Nabis, Der Blaue Reiter and Suprematism, and key figures such as Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian. This course explores their art and aesthetic developments within their historical context. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 343 Installation and Environmental Art
This course focuses on the unique forms of installation and environmental art since 1960. Artists have created works that are directly dependent upon their interior or exterior settings. The class examines chronologically the post-World War II history of installation art, leading to the artistic move outside and into the natural landscape (a divergent tradition from historical public sculpture). Additionally, discussion focuses on the strong relationship that exists between architectural conceptualization and the notions underscoring these forms. In particular, these sculptural works are examined as representing a consequence, corollary, reaction or response to architecture and the landscape. Prerequisite: ARTH 207.
ARTH 347 Great Masters? Materials and Techniques
This course delves below the surface to explore the physical character of paintings, manuscripts and stained-glass windows by northern and southern European artists from 1100 to 1600. Antique treatises and recipe books regarding artists’ materials and techniques are studied. Emphasis is placed on how and with what artists created works of art, with recent results of the scientific examination of art providing substantial basis for insights. Conservation issues are also considered in light of new studies in this field. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 348 British Portraiture
Using the resources of the college’s Earle W. Newton Center for British and American Arts, British portraiture from the Renaissance to the early 20th century are examined. Course lectures focus on content, style and technique of work that is directly observable in the collection, and explores the context and role of portraiture in British society. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 350 Survey of Women in Art
This course surveys women’s involvement in and relationship to the visual arts from antiquity through postmodernism. Study focuses on the factors involved in women’s access to artistic production and their major contributions to the history of art. Students are encouraged to consider the historical reality of women’s participation in art and architecture through the ages. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 351 Native American Art I
This course is part of an investigation of the artistic traditions of native North America. Regions studied include the prehistoric Eastern Woodlands, historic Southeast, Northeast, Sub-Arctic, Arctic and Northwest Coast. Discussions are concerned primarily with content, context, style, technique and the role of art in these diverse cultures. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 354 Survey of African-American Art
This course comprehensively surveys the birth, growth and maturation of African-American art from the arts and crafts of the era of slave trade to the contemporary Postmodernist art styles. The course has therefore been designed/structured to grant students an insight to the history, production and evolution of African-American cultural traditions from the time of their detachment from Africa to their transplantation and attachment to the Euro-American culture. Considering the multiracial/multicultural nature of the African-American essence and therefore the diversity found in their arts and culture, the course content focuses on establishing the places of the different cultural environments, the socio-cultural relationships and the impacts of socio-political elements on the formation of the “philosophy” of African-American art and culture, as well as the conception and production of resultant artworks. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 356 Digital Art and Culture
This course examines the use of digital technology in art history and visual culture and provides a framework to discuss prevailing theoretical issues. Students explore the practice of digital art on a global level and are introduced to the relevant concepts involved in the discourse. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 357 Greek Art and Archaeology
This course examines the principal monuments of Greek art and archaeology. Works of painting, sculpture and architecture are discussed in terms of style, meaning and social context. The course provides a basic understanding of the so-called “cradle” of Western civilization and its influence on later Western art. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 358 Roman Art and Archaeology
This course examines the principal monuments of the Roman world and some of the archaeological practices that have brought them to light. Painting, sculpture, architecture and material culture in general are considered, as they reflect social, political and aesthetic attitudes in the ancient world. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 361 Native American Art II
This course is part of an introduction to the artistic traditions of native North America. Regions studied in this course include the Northwest Coast, plateau, Great Plains, Great Basin, California and the American Southwest. Discussions are primarily concerned with content, context, style, technique and the role of art in these diverse cultures. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 365 World Rock Art
Rock paintings or rock carvings from around the world are a record of people connecting meaning and place. Topics to be discussed would include site studies from Paleolithic Europe, Neolithic Africa, North America and Australia, as well as consideration of contemporary methodologies and issues in the field, with particular emphasis on site preservation and management. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 366 British Literary Art of the 19th Century
Literature of the 19th century had a strong influence on British painting. This course examines the visual and verbal dialogue between these two art forms through the reading of poetry, novels and other prose, as a means to comprehend their application in the visual art world of 19th-century Britain. Additionally students critically explore and evaluate the connections between the written word and the visual work through in-class discussion and written assignments. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 367 18th-century English Art and Design
Painting, sculpture, design, landscape and architecture are examined within the context of an English Georgian society that variously placed an emphasis on polite society, class distinction, the study of classical art and culture, nature, commerce and the romantic. Individual works are studied within the larger context of the patron’s and maker’s physical, social and psychological milieus. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 369 Russian Modernism
The history of modern Russian art is the product of the same discourses that defined all Western modernist movements. Through the study of Russian painting, sculpture, architecture, film and theatrical settings, this course addresses fundamental issues that are raised in an examination of modernism in any national context. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 372 French Impressionism
This course explores ideas and images pertinent to French Impressionism. Its objective is to increase students’ knowledge of French Impressionist art and to equip students with standard research methodologies employed for art historical analyses at their differing stages in professional development. Prerequisites: ENGL 123, ARTH 110, and ARTH 205 or ARTH 207.
ARTH 373 New York as an Art Capital of the World
Europeans acknowledged the status of the visual arts in New York only after World War II. This recognition was partly due to the new museums that were founded after the 1920s: The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum and the Guggenheim. Students in this course visit all of these museums, in addition to more recently founded institutions and current galleries of the 57th Street and Madison Avenue areas. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 374 African Art: Beyond the Object
This course is an introduction to the traditional art of Africa. The course explores the rich and “exotic” cultural traditions of African peoples outside the influence of Euro-American cultures. The class focuses on developing an appreciation of other cultures and exploring their limitless potentials to work with Western cultures in the spirit of reciprocity. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 375 Art and Architecture of 16th-century Italy
Michelangelo’s heroic masterpieces reflect many of the contradictions represented by Italian artists during the 16th century. This course focuses on developments in artistic theory and design that enlighten and explain the dramatic intensity and stylistic changes from the grandeur of High Renaissance art to the complexities presented by the Mannerists. Works of principal painters and sculptors of the period are studied: the Venetian masters Titian and Tintoretto, the Florentine masters Bronzino and Rosso, and others. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 378 Masterpieces in English Collections
Students explore the visual wealth of the great English collections. In particular, the course focuses on the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Courtauld Institute in London. Students view works from the Parthenon sculptures, medieval treasures, Old Master paintings by Jan Van Eyck, Leonardo, Titian, works by English artists such as John Constable and a host of non-western treasures. The great English passion for collecting is explored in great country houses. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 380 Northern Renaissance Art
This course covers the great artistic achievements and the diverse social conditions north of the Alps from approximately 1350-1575. The role that the church and nobility played in the invention and development of oil painting is studied, as well as the role prints played in creating the unprecedented spread of information, leading to an awareness of classicism and playing a significant role in the Reformation. The technical development of prints and the importance of religious sculpture also is studied. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARTH class.
ARTH 381 Italian Renaissance Art
This course examines Italian art and architecture from the early 14th to the middle 16th century. The content and the context of the artworks, their form and function, and the lives of the artists and architects who produced them, are given special emphasis. Questions of patronage and the influence of humanism as seen through classical and contemporary literature are examined. The differences in regional styles are critically analyzed. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 383 Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture of Mesoamerica
This course explores the art and architecture of the major civilizations of Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Teotihuacanos, Toltec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Aztec and Mayan peoples. Major architectural monuments dating from 1200 B.C. to 1520 A.D., sculpture, painting, manuscripts, fiber arts, ceramics and metalwork are discussed in terms of content, historical and social context, style, form and the role of art in their respective cultures. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 384 Art Highlights: Washington D.C.
The nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C., is recognized as a vital center for the arts. The history and heritage of the collections and monuments in this city attest to the tradition of the arts and cultural development in the United States. This course focuses on paintings, sculpture, as well as other arts during discussions and tours in and around Washington, D.C. The class visits institutions such as the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, the Freer and Sackler galleries as well as the National Museums of the American Indian and African Art.
ARTH 385 Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture of Peru
This course explores the art and architecture of the major civilizations of Peru. Major architectural monuments dating from 2700 B.C. to 1532 A.D., sculpture, painting, fiber arts, ceramics and metalwork are discussed in terms of content, historical and social context, style, form and the role of art in their respective cultures. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 391 Roman Art and Architecture in Provence
The southern French region of Provence was one of the earliest provinces to be attached to the Roman Empire. Provence is fortunate to still possess many monuments from the Roman era, and affords students the opportunity to see and experience firsthand many examples of Roman art and architecture. In addition, class discussions and assignments provide the opportunity for the student to learn about the history of Roman Provence and its importance to the Roman Empire. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 395 Off-campus Special Topics in Art History
The topic of this course, as well as its location, varies from quarter to quarter. Each class focuses on various issues in the art history field, giving students an opportunity to pursue individual projects related to the subject of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.
ARTH 396 Art and Architectural Treasures of the Vatican
This course concentrates on the historical development of major art and architectural monuments at the Vatican. Topics include such themes as the Vatican area in classical times, the Vatican cemetery, the Petrine tradition, Constantine’s Church, New St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Stanze, and the Vatican gardens and museum collections. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 400 Professional Practices
Students refine advanced research skills and build an annotated bibliography on a chosen topic in anticipation of pursuing their senior thesis. Students examine their bibliographic material within the framework of art history methodology as well as explore related career options, including writing exhibition reviews, practice grants and catalog entries. In addition they hone their professional presentation skills, both in formal conference-style presentations and practice interviews with guest speakers. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARTH course.
ARTH 404 Hogarth?s Satirical Art
William Hogarth was the foremost visual satirist of 18th-century Great Britain. His oeuvre’s commentary on the social, political and intellectual issues of 1720s-1760s Great Britain and (to a lesser extent) his influence on contemporaneous and subsequent artists is analyzed through readings, discussions, research and writings in this course. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 405 Problems in Art History: Perspective
This seminar explores the history and theory of perspective and projection drawing in Western art from the 15th to 18th centuries. The course examines the optical theories and practices developed during the early modern period. The methods explored are based on the geometric properties of Euclidean space and dependent on seeing, knowing and creating within scalable space. Among the construction systems included are linear perspective, orthographic projection, the distortion of the perception of the position in space, and the relative scale of objects by the use of anamorphosis. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 408 Museum Culture
This course provides an historical overview of the development, nature, evolution, form, function, purpose and meaning of the art museum in Europe, North America and in the developing world through course readings, class discussions and review of case studies of major museums. The structure of the art museum is discussed, along with museum theory and applied museology. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 409 Art History B.F.A. Thesis
This course provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate sound scholarly methodology and critical thinking skills as they select a topic, research it and write an advanced research paper under the supervision of a faculty committee. The thesis topic must be approved at least one quarter in advance by a faculty adviser. The course is designed for senior art history majors. Prerequisite: By permission of department chair.
ARTH 410 Arts of the African Diaspora
The modern African diasporic situation arguably begins with the forced exodus of African peoples as part of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Beginning with the arts of the Antebellum South in the United States, this course examines the arts of Haiti, Cuba and Brazil, as well as the Harlem Renaissance, focusing on the materials in the Walter O. and Linda Evans Collection, recently donated to the SCAD Museum of Art. The course concludes with a review of contemporary African artists. The theory of Diaspora formation is explored in readings by James Clifford, Melville Herskovits, Fernando Ortiz and Robert Farris Thompson, among others. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 415 Medieval Manuscripts
The medieval manuscript provided artists with the most important venue for painting for more than 1200 years. Students learn how and why they were made by exploring production practices and patronage. The socio-historical context under which these fine works were created is a significant component of this course. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 420 Visual Culture
Students learn to use the language of visual culture with a particular focus on the symbols, strategies and messages employed. Incorporating the methods of art analysis, the course introduces students to different forms of visual culture (television, advertising, fashion, gaming, architecture and the media), while comparing and contrasting these within a philosophical and historical setting. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 440 Problems in Renaissance Art: Mannerism
This seminar examines the style titled “Mannerism” by scholars centuries after it had already ended. Art and artists considered are those from the 16th century in Italy who provided an alternative style to what is most often called the “High Renaissance” practiced by Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael. The term and the movement have been questioned repeatedly over the past five decades especially in regards to its proposed dates, influences, development and practitioners. After presenting a foundation for the etymology of Mannerism/maniera, this course includes intense reading, discussion and analysis of the scholarship since the International Conference on the style in question (1963). Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 476 Documentary Photography and the Portrait 1945?Present
Covering the history of documentary photography from c. 1945 to the present, students examine major photographic movements, styles, critics and theoretical perspectives. The focus is on the rich and varied critical and theoretical discourse circulating between photographs, or images using photography, and the texts which helped frame the most significant contributions to contemporary photography. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 480 After Postmodernism
During the first half of the last century Aby Warburg, Erwin Panofsky and Heinrich Woelfflin defined theoretical corner stones for the emerging discipline of art history. Today contemporary art history faces multiple challenges from aesthetics, visual culture, media theory and the blurring line between “high” art and “low” art. After the linguistic turn, the pictorial turn, and the iconic turn we are left with an undefined Bildwissenschaft (image science). Recent research practices call for the reevaluation of the foundations of art history. The goal of this class is to discuss some of the methodological challenges after postmodernism. Students learn prevalent notions in the discourse and engage in the contestation of ideas. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 491 Topics in New Media Art
This course provides an in-depth theoretical and critical investigation of a particular topic within the new media arts. The topic varies from quarter to quarter; however, the course is intended to provide students with the opportunity to refine their expertise in a specific field of inquiry. Prerequisite: Varies according to topic.
ARTH 495 Special Topics in Art History
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter. Each class focuses on various issues in the art history field, giving students an opportunity to pursue individual projects related to the subject of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.
This course is the first half of a two-part survey designed to introduce students to the historical and intellectual content of Western art. The class focuses on painting, sculpture and architecture from the Paleolithic to the late Gothic period in Europe as presented in terms of history, style, meaning and social context.
ARTH 110 Survey of Western Art II
This course is the second half of a two-part survey designed to introduce students to the historical and intellectual content of Western art. The class focuses on painting, sculpture and architecture from the Renaissance to the Modern period in Europe and the Americas as presented in terms of history, style, meaning and social context. Prerequisite: ARTH 100.
ARTH 204 17th-century Art
This course introduces students to the art and architecture of 17th and 18th-century Europe, particular the art of Italy, Spain, France, Flanders and the Dutch Republic. Individual artists are considered in view of their particular contributions to their cultures as well as their international influence. The course examines the relationship between science, religion, politics and the arts during this critical phase of history. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 205 19th-century Art
This course analyzes the innovative forms of art and culture that led to new ways for artists to view society and their place within it. Consideration is given to the influences of technology, politics, literature and music on painting and sculpture. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 207 20th-century Art
This course provides an in-depth analysis of the work of such revolutionary 20th-century artists as Matisse, Picasso, Duchamp, Pollock, Smithson and Beuys. A series of lectures is accompanied by slides and class discussions. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 209 Renaissance Art
This course provides an overview of the Renaissance, focusing on the role of patronage, the purpose and function of major works of the period, and the materials and techniques used. Students explore the artistic achievements of the Renaissance and explore connections to the period’s continuing impact on today’s art. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 212 18-century Art
With emphasis on the art of France, Spain, England, and Italy, the objective of this course is to educate the student on the art produced in 18th-century Europe. Distinction is made between the various stylistic periods that occurred during this century, namely the Rococo, Neoclassical, and Romantic periods. Art is discussed within its cultural and historical context with an emphasis on visual analysis. A research paper based on 18th-century art is required and introduces the student to effective research and writing skills. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 220 Survey of Asian Art
This course introduces students to the arts of India, China and Japan, with particular attention to technique, style, content and the role of the arts in Asian cultures. Lectures are focused on major topics. No familiarity with Asian studies is required. Foreign names and terms are de-emphasized in favor of general knowledge of the cultures and arts studied. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 226 American Art
This course offers a broad survey of American art, emphasizing painting and sculpture, yet covering other cultural manifestations as well. The social, political and intellectual contexts for the artworks are given strong consideration. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 240 Treasures of Provence
This course enables students to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the rich artistic traditions and the fascinating history of Provence. Class discussion and site visits focus on many of the art collections and architectural monuments found throughout southern France. Class assignments and research projects provide students the opportunity to complement their major or pursue areas of personal interest. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 250 Art Historical Methods
Undergraduate art history majors and minors are introduced to the fundamentals of visual description and analysis, academic research and writing, and the history of art history and a selection of its methodologies. Prerequisite: ARTH 110.
ARTH 255 French Modernism
During the 19th century, Paris was the center for artistic change in Europe. This course explores the works and theories of major French painters, sculptors and architects, with special consideration given to history and the emerging technologies. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 265 Survey of New Media Art
This course introduces students to the breadth of new media in the digital and imaging arts and the recent history of artistic exploration into these media. Underscoring this survey is the concept that new media have forced art history into expanding the canon and its criteria for examining art. In particular, this course surveys their evolution out of traditional media. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 271 Art of China
This survey of Chinese art begins with the period of Neolithic ceramics, ritual bronze vessels, early pictorial art, Buddhist sculpture and architecture, and ink monochrome landscape painting and moves to the self-expressionistic paintings of the literati amateur tradition. The course provides an exploration of the content, style and role of the arts within the framework of Chinese culture and history. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 281 Ancient Art and Architecture
This course examines the formative and historical relationships between art and culture in ancient Mediterranean civilizations. Works of art and architecture are analyzed using a variety of archaeological and art historical approaches. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 282 Medieval Art and Architecture
This course traces the development of the major artistic styles of the Middle Ages (Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic) as manifested in architecture, sculpture, painting and “minor” art forms such as manuscript illumination. The social and political currents of the times are also explored. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 283 Myth, Bible and Symbol in Art
The purpose of this course is to help students identify major mythological, biblical and symbolic themes in Western art. Students read excerpts from mythological and biblical literature and discuss their depiction in major works of art. Cultural symbols in art are also considered. This course is designed to further prepare student artists to incorporate and reinterpret these cultural resources in their own work and recognize it in the works of other artists. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 287 Ethnographic Art
The art and architectural traditions of Africa, native North America, Oceania, pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and/or South America are introduced. Lectures primarily focus on content, context, style, technique, and the role of art and architecture in these cultures, with some discussion concerning the interaction of these traditions with Western art and architectural styles. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 295 Off-campus Special Topics in Art History
The topic of this course, as well as its location, varies from quarter to quarter. Each class focuses on various issues in the art history field, giving students an opportunity to pursue individual projects related to the subject of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.
ARTH 300 Censored Art through 1945
Art has been and continues to be an arena for society’s expression of itself and its values. Throughout history, works of art that were deemed threatening to the status quo have been censored, whether for stylistic or thematic reasons. This course examines specific works of art that have been censored in European and American art through 1945. Prerequisite: ARLH 208 or ARTH 207.
ARTH 303 Contemporary African Art
This course examines the powerful influence of Western arts and culture on art and artists of Africa. The course seeks to establish the veracity of the concept termed “Reciprocity or Symbiotic Existences” between cultures and in the process, portray the reality in African art. The influence of African art on Western European art and culture has been exhaustively published, but not much has been said about the reciprocal gesture of Western arts. This course progresses along a structured path that guides the student from authentic traditional art/culture through the transitional and to the Modern/Contemporary; at which stage, Western arts and culture replaces the religious-spiritual-functional arts of traditional, or ancient Africa. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 311 Art and Architecture of India
This course surveys the architecture, painting and sculpture of the Indian subcontinent. The work is studied in context, with discussions of how Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Muslim religions relate to the artistic production of the society. The purposes and functions of the various temples, sculptures and paintings are emphasized, and students gain an overall awareness of the different uses of art in India versus the West. Literary texts provide a contextual background. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 312 Latin American Art
This course explores issues in Latin American art history. The course concentrates on selected aspects of Latin American art, from the Pre-Columbian to contemporary 20th-century period. Specific areas covered include: pre-Columbian and colonial Mexico and Peru, images of revolution and independence, and 20th-century images from Mexico and South America as well as the artistic production of Latin American and Chicana/o artists in the United States. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 326 Early Medieval Art and Architecture of Western Europe
This course traces the development of the major artistic styles of the early Middle Ages (Hiberno-Saxon, Carolingian, Ottonian, Anglo-Saxon) as manifested in architecture, sculpture, painting and “minor” art forms such as manuscript illumination. The social and political currents of the times are also explored. Prerequisites: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 333 Egyptian Art and Archaeology
This course examines the artistic contribution of the ancient Egyptian civilization over a chronological continuum of more than three millennia, from the Predynastic cultures in the North and South through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Special attention is given to current archaeological discoveries in Egypt, the importance of hieroglyphs in the understanding of Egyptian art, and the phenomenon of Egyptianization throughout the history of Western art. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 335 Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture
This course examines the major developments in the visual arts from 313 A.D. to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. Works of painting, sculpture, luxury arts and architecture are analyzed in terms of style and meaning (iconography), with an emphasis on the social and historical context in which these pieces were produced. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 337 Quattrocento Art
The focus of this course is on the works produced by great 15th-century Italian artists and architects such as Brunelleschi, Donatello, Masaccio, Leon Alberti, Andrea Mantegna and Sandra Botticelli. By examining their techniques, the patrons and the cultural considerations that informed their works, this course shows that the Italian Renaissance was more than a rebirth of ideals and art of classical antiquity. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 340 Art Since 1945
This course is a chronological survey of major theory, art movements and monuments from 1945 to the present. Each student is expected to develop verbal and written skills in discussing contemporary art and to learn to identify significant characteristics of art of the recent past and the present. This course is intended to promote the student’s understanding of artistic style and to expand knowledge of the debates regarding contemporary critical theory and art criticism. Prerequisite: ARTH 207.
ARTH 342 Art and Spirituality
The late 19th-century and early 20th-century witnessed the development of consciously abstracted and deliberately spiritual approaches to painting and sculpture in Europe. The most important styles, groups and artists of this trend include Symbolism, Nabis, Der Blaue Reiter and Suprematism, and key figures such as Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian. This course explores their art and aesthetic developments within their historical context. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 343 Installation and Environmental Art
This course focuses on the unique forms of installation and environmental art since 1960. Artists have created works that are directly dependent upon their interior or exterior settings. The class examines chronologically the post-World War II history of installation art, leading to the artistic move outside and into the natural landscape (a divergent tradition from historical public sculpture). Additionally, discussion focuses on the strong relationship that exists between architectural conceptualization and the notions underscoring these forms. In particular, these sculptural works are examined as representing a consequence, corollary, reaction or response to architecture and the landscape. Prerequisite: ARTH 207.
ARTH 347 Great Masters? Materials and Techniques
This course delves below the surface to explore the physical character of paintings, manuscripts and stained-glass windows by northern and southern European artists from 1100 to 1600. Antique treatises and recipe books regarding artists’ materials and techniques are studied. Emphasis is placed on how and with what artists created works of art, with recent results of the scientific examination of art providing substantial basis for insights. Conservation issues are also considered in light of new studies in this field. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 348 British Portraiture
Using the resources of the college’s Earle W. Newton Center for British and American Arts, British portraiture from the Renaissance to the early 20th century are examined. Course lectures focus on content, style and technique of work that is directly observable in the collection, and explores the context and role of portraiture in British society. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 350 Survey of Women in Art
This course surveys women’s involvement in and relationship to the visual arts from antiquity through postmodernism. Study focuses on the factors involved in women’s access to artistic production and their major contributions to the history of art. Students are encouraged to consider the historical reality of women’s participation in art and architecture through the ages. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 351 Native American Art I
This course is part of an investigation of the artistic traditions of native North America. Regions studied include the prehistoric Eastern Woodlands, historic Southeast, Northeast, Sub-Arctic, Arctic and Northwest Coast. Discussions are concerned primarily with content, context, style, technique and the role of art in these diverse cultures. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 354 Survey of African-American Art
This course comprehensively surveys the birth, growth and maturation of African-American art from the arts and crafts of the era of slave trade to the contemporary Postmodernist art styles. The course has therefore been designed/structured to grant students an insight to the history, production and evolution of African-American cultural traditions from the time of their detachment from Africa to their transplantation and attachment to the Euro-American culture. Considering the multiracial/multicultural nature of the African-American essence and therefore the diversity found in their arts and culture, the course content focuses on establishing the places of the different cultural environments, the socio-cultural relationships and the impacts of socio-political elements on the formation of the “philosophy” of African-American art and culture, as well as the conception and production of resultant artworks. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 356 Digital Art and Culture
This course examines the use of digital technology in art history and visual culture and provides a framework to discuss prevailing theoretical issues. Students explore the practice of digital art on a global level and are introduced to the relevant concepts involved in the discourse. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 357 Greek Art and Archaeology
This course examines the principal monuments of Greek art and archaeology. Works of painting, sculpture and architecture are discussed in terms of style, meaning and social context. The course provides a basic understanding of the so-called “cradle” of Western civilization and its influence on later Western art. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 358 Roman Art and Archaeology
This course examines the principal monuments of the Roman world and some of the archaeological practices that have brought them to light. Painting, sculpture, architecture and material culture in general are considered, as they reflect social, political and aesthetic attitudes in the ancient world. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 361 Native American Art II
This course is part of an introduction to the artistic traditions of native North America. Regions studied in this course include the Northwest Coast, plateau, Great Plains, Great Basin, California and the American Southwest. Discussions are primarily concerned with content, context, style, technique and the role of art in these diverse cultures. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 365 World Rock Art
Rock paintings or rock carvings from around the world are a record of people connecting meaning and place. Topics to be discussed would include site studies from Paleolithic Europe, Neolithic Africa, North America and Australia, as well as consideration of contemporary methodologies and issues in the field, with particular emphasis on site preservation and management. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 366 British Literary Art of the 19th Century
Literature of the 19th century had a strong influence on British painting. This course examines the visual and verbal dialogue between these two art forms through the reading of poetry, novels and other prose, as a means to comprehend their application in the visual art world of 19th-century Britain. Additionally students critically explore and evaluate the connections between the written word and the visual work through in-class discussion and written assignments. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 367 18th-century English Art and Design
Painting, sculpture, design, landscape and architecture are examined within the context of an English Georgian society that variously placed an emphasis on polite society, class distinction, the study of classical art and culture, nature, commerce and the romantic. Individual works are studied within the larger context of the patron’s and maker’s physical, social and psychological milieus. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 369 Russian Modernism
The history of modern Russian art is the product of the same discourses that defined all Western modernist movements. Through the study of Russian painting, sculpture, architecture, film and theatrical settings, this course addresses fundamental issues that are raised in an examination of modernism in any national context. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 372 French Impressionism
This course explores ideas and images pertinent to French Impressionism. Its objective is to increase students’ knowledge of French Impressionist art and to equip students with standard research methodologies employed for art historical analyses at their differing stages in professional development. Prerequisites: ENGL 123, ARTH 110, and ARTH 205 or ARTH 207.
ARTH 373 New York as an Art Capital of the World
Europeans acknowledged the status of the visual arts in New York only after World War II. This recognition was partly due to the new museums that were founded after the 1920s: The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum and the Guggenheim. Students in this course visit all of these museums, in addition to more recently founded institutions and current galleries of the 57th Street and Madison Avenue areas. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 374 African Art: Beyond the Object
This course is an introduction to the traditional art of Africa. The course explores the rich and “exotic” cultural traditions of African peoples outside the influence of Euro-American cultures. The class focuses on developing an appreciation of other cultures and exploring their limitless potentials to work with Western cultures in the spirit of reciprocity. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 375 Art and Architecture of 16th-century Italy
Michelangelo’s heroic masterpieces reflect many of the contradictions represented by Italian artists during the 16th century. This course focuses on developments in artistic theory and design that enlighten and explain the dramatic intensity and stylistic changes from the grandeur of High Renaissance art to the complexities presented by the Mannerists. Works of principal painters and sculptors of the period are studied: the Venetian masters Titian and Tintoretto, the Florentine masters Bronzino and Rosso, and others. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 378 Masterpieces in English Collections
Students explore the visual wealth of the great English collections. In particular, the course focuses on the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Courtauld Institute in London. Students view works from the Parthenon sculptures, medieval treasures, Old Master paintings by Jan Van Eyck, Leonardo, Titian, works by English artists such as John Constable and a host of non-western treasures. The great English passion for collecting is explored in great country houses. Prerequisites: ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
ARTH 380 Northern Renaissance Art
This course covers the great artistic achievements and the diverse social conditions north of the Alps from approximately 1350-1575. The role that the church and nobility played in the invention and development of oil painting is studied, as well as the role prints played in creating the unprecedented spread of information, leading to an awareness of classicism and playing a significant role in the Reformation. The technical development of prints and the importance of religious sculpture also is studied. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARTH class.
ARTH 381 Italian Renaissance Art
This course examines Italian art and architecture from the early 14th to the middle 16th century. The content and the context of the artworks, their form and function, and the lives of the artists and architects who produced them, are given special emphasis. Questions of patronage and the influence of humanism as seen through classical and contemporary literature are examined. The differences in regional styles are critically analyzed. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 383 Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture of Mesoamerica
This course explores the art and architecture of the major civilizations of Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Teotihuacanos, Toltec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Aztec and Mayan peoples. Major architectural monuments dating from 1200 B.C. to 1520 A.D., sculpture, painting, manuscripts, fiber arts, ceramics and metalwork are discussed in terms of content, historical and social context, style, form and the role of art in their respective cultures. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 384 Art Highlights: Washington D.C.
The nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C., is recognized as a vital center for the arts. The history and heritage of the collections and monuments in this city attest to the tradition of the arts and cultural development in the United States. This course focuses on paintings, sculpture, as well as other arts during discussions and tours in and around Washington, D.C. The class visits institutions such as the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, the Freer and Sackler galleries as well as the National Museums of the American Indian and African Art.
ARTH 385 Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture of Peru
This course explores the art and architecture of the major civilizations of Peru. Major architectural monuments dating from 2700 B.C. to 1532 A.D., sculpture, painting, fiber arts, ceramics and metalwork are discussed in terms of content, historical and social context, style, form and the role of art in their respective cultures. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 391 Roman Art and Architecture in Provence
The southern French region of Provence was one of the earliest provinces to be attached to the Roman Empire. Provence is fortunate to still possess many monuments from the Roman era, and affords students the opportunity to see and experience firsthand many examples of Roman art and architecture. In addition, class discussions and assignments provide the opportunity for the student to learn about the history of Roman Provence and its importance to the Roman Empire. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 395 Off-campus Special Topics in Art History
The topic of this course, as well as its location, varies from quarter to quarter. Each class focuses on various issues in the art history field, giving students an opportunity to pursue individual projects related to the subject of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.
ARTH 396 Art and Architectural Treasures of the Vatican
This course concentrates on the historical development of major art and architectural monuments at the Vatican. Topics include such themes as the Vatican area in classical times, the Vatican cemetery, the Petrine tradition, Constantine’s Church, New St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Stanze, and the Vatican gardens and museum collections. Prerequisite: Any 200-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 400 Professional Practices
Students refine advanced research skills and build an annotated bibliography on a chosen topic in anticipation of pursuing their senior thesis. Students examine their bibliographic material within the framework of art history methodology as well as explore related career options, including writing exhibition reviews, practice grants and catalog entries. In addition they hone their professional presentation skills, both in formal conference-style presentations and practice interviews with guest speakers. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARTH course.
ARTH 404 Hogarth?s Satirical Art
William Hogarth was the foremost visual satirist of 18th-century Great Britain. His oeuvre’s commentary on the social, political and intellectual issues of 1720s-1760s Great Britain and (to a lesser extent) his influence on contemporaneous and subsequent artists is analyzed through readings, discussions, research and writings in this course. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 405 Problems in Art History: Perspective
This seminar explores the history and theory of perspective and projection drawing in Western art from the 15th to 18th centuries. The course examines the optical theories and practices developed during the early modern period. The methods explored are based on the geometric properties of Euclidean space and dependent on seeing, knowing and creating within scalable space. Among the construction systems included are linear perspective, orthographic projection, the distortion of the perception of the position in space, and the relative scale of objects by the use of anamorphosis. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 408 Museum Culture
This course provides an historical overview of the development, nature, evolution, form, function, purpose and meaning of the art museum in Europe, North America and in the developing world through course readings, class discussions and review of case studies of major museums. The structure of the art museum is discussed, along with museum theory and applied museology. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 409 Art History B.F.A. Thesis
This course provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate sound scholarly methodology and critical thinking skills as they select a topic, research it and write an advanced research paper under the supervision of a faculty committee. The thesis topic must be approved at least one quarter in advance by a faculty adviser. The course is designed for senior art history majors. Prerequisite: By permission of department chair.
ARTH 410 Arts of the African Diaspora
The modern African diasporic situation arguably begins with the forced exodus of African peoples as part of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Beginning with the arts of the Antebellum South in the United States, this course examines the arts of Haiti, Cuba and Brazil, as well as the Harlem Renaissance, focusing on the materials in the Walter O. and Linda Evans Collection, recently donated to the SCAD Museum of Art. The course concludes with a review of contemporary African artists. The theory of Diaspora formation is explored in readings by James Clifford, Melville Herskovits, Fernando Ortiz and Robert Farris Thompson, among others. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 415 Medieval Manuscripts
The medieval manuscript provided artists with the most important venue for painting for more than 1200 years. Students learn how and why they were made by exploring production practices and patronage. The socio-historical context under which these fine works were created is a significant component of this course. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 420 Visual Culture
Students learn to use the language of visual culture with a particular focus on the symbols, strategies and messages employed. Incorporating the methods of art analysis, the course introduces students to different forms of visual culture (television, advertising, fashion, gaming, architecture and the media), while comparing and contrasting these within a philosophical and historical setting. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 440 Problems in Renaissance Art: Mannerism
This seminar examines the style titled “Mannerism” by scholars centuries after it had already ended. Art and artists considered are those from the 16th century in Italy who provided an alternative style to what is most often called the “High Renaissance” practiced by Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael. The term and the movement have been questioned repeatedly over the past five decades especially in regards to its proposed dates, influences, development and practitioners. After presenting a foundation for the etymology of Mannerism/maniera, this course includes intense reading, discussion and analysis of the scholarship since the International Conference on the style in question (1963). Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 476 Documentary Photography and the Portrait 1945?Present
Covering the history of documentary photography from c. 1945 to the present, students examine major photographic movements, styles, critics and theoretical perspectives. The focus is on the rich and varied critical and theoretical discourse circulating between photographs, or images using photography, and the texts which helped frame the most significant contributions to contemporary photography. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 480 After Postmodernism
During the first half of the last century Aby Warburg, Erwin Panofsky and Heinrich Woelfflin defined theoretical corner stones for the emerging discipline of art history. Today contemporary art history faces multiple challenges from aesthetics, visual culture, media theory and the blurring line between “high” art and “low” art. After the linguistic turn, the pictorial turn, and the iconic turn we are left with an undefined Bildwissenschaft (image science). Recent research practices call for the reevaluation of the foundations of art history. The goal of this class is to discuss some of the methodological challenges after postmodernism. Students learn prevalent notions in the discourse and engage in the contestation of ideas. Prerequisite: Any 300-level ARLH/ARTH course.
ARTH 491 Topics in New Media Art
This course provides an in-depth theoretical and critical investigation of a particular topic within the new media arts. The topic varies from quarter to quarter; however, the course is intended to provide students with the opportunity to refine their expertise in a specific field of inquiry. Prerequisite: Varies according to topic.
ARTH 495 Special Topics in Art History
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter. Each class focuses on various issues in the art history field, giving students an opportunity to pursue individual projects related to the subject of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.
Graduate Courses
ARTH 700 Historiography of Art History
Historiography is a thorough introduction to the principle developments and writings in the field of art history, with an emphasis on developments from the 18th-century onward. Readings for class meetings will demonstrate various approaches to art history. Students write a 15-page paper and make a presentation to the class.
ARTH 701 Contemporary Art
This course responds to the diverse and personal nature of contemporary art. The course profiles outstanding artists from many aesthetic backgrounds, offering students significant examples to evaluate. Classes are organized around media such as painting, sculpture, photography, performance, film and television, and music. An in-depth, case-study approach is used throughout the course to provide information about personal sources and processes of art making.
ARTH 702 Art Criticism
This course confronts the nature and responsibility of art criticism today. Specific examples of contemporary critical writings are used to explore the foundation of the dialogue between art and the audience. Working within their areas of specialization, students practice critical methods, identify forums for critical inquiry, learn the basics of major art theories and identify current issues that increasingly form the critical discourse in art and design. Prerequisite: ARTH 701.
ARTH 703 Modern and Contemporary Critical Theory
This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the importance of critical theory and how it has shaped the practices of both artists and art historians in recent times. Through exploring various theoretical models, students are encouraged to consider the position of art and its histories within the socio-cultural realm.
ARTH 705 History and Theory of Installation Art
This course explores the complex and diverse works associated with multimedia and installation, and focuses specifically on American and British artists of the 1970s to the 1990s. Prerequisite: ARTH 702.
ARTH 706 Feminist Art
The history of feminist art is rich and varied. The second- and third-waves, from 1970 to the present, are the focus of this course. It also takes into account the immediate influences from the middle decades of the 20th century, in particular the impact of Women’s Liberation Movement and Stonewall. Feminism has been strongly influential on all areas of contemporary art, which is also a subject of discussion throughout the course. Finally, the notion of woman is deconstructed and examined as well. Students enhance their analytical thinking and interpretative skills by engaging in group discussions and completing independent research assignments on topics within feminist art. Prerequisite: ARTH 701, ARTH 702.
ARTH 707 Hogarth?s Satirical Art
William Hogarth was the foremost visual satirist of 18th century Great Britain. In this seminar, Hogarth’s oeuvre’s commentary on the social, political and intellectual issues of 1720s-1760s Great Britain and (to a lesser extent) his works’ influence on contemporaneous and subsequent artists is analyzed through readings, discussions, research and writings.
ARTH 708 Issues in Art History
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influence art history. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of professor.
ARTH 710 Issues in Contemporary Art
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influence contemporary art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 711 Issues in Modern Art
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influenced modern art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 712 Issues in Renaissance Art
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influenced Renaissance art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 713 The Pre-Raphaelite Movement
This is a seminar course examining painting, prints, and design associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Students read one or more readings that serve as the basis for discussion and debate for each class, as well as expose students to a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches. There often be short lecture components for the purpose of putting the material into context.
ARTH 714 Great Masters? Materials and Techniques
By exploring the physical character of paintings, manuscripts and stained-glass windows by northern and southern European artists from 1100 to 1660, students in this course understand how, and with what materials and techniques, artists created works of art. Through the study antique treatises and recipe books uncovering artists’ materials and techniques, as well as recent information revealed through scientific examination and conservation science, students gain insight into creative and technical processes of the masters.
ARTH 715 Native American Materials and Techniques
With a dual emphasis on historical and cultural contexts, this course examines the technique and practice of the various artistic and craft traditions of native North America.
ARTH 718 Issues in Medieval Art and Architecture
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influenced medieval art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 719 Issues in Ancient Art and Architecture
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influenced ancient art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 719F Art and Architecture in Ancient Egypt
Pyramids Ancient Egypt and its pyramids have represented the apex in world architectural achievement since antiquity. This seminar examines the chronological development of the pyramid form, its functional synthesis in ancient Egyptian culture, and its transmission as an emblem for Egyptianization through time.
ARTH 726 Medieval Manuscripts
The medieval manuscript provided artists with the most important venue for painting for over 1200 years. Students learn how and why they were made by exploring production practices and patronage. The socio-historical context under which these fine works were created is also a significant component of this course.
ARTH 728 18th-century Art
This course is a general survey of 18th-century art, architecture and culture in Europe and America. Students are expected to gain familiarity with the important works of art and the major personalities in art and architecture in Europe and America during this period.
ARTH 733 Greek Art and Archaeology
This course examines the principal monuments of Greek art and archaeology. Works of painting, sculpture and architecture are discussed in terms of style, meaning and social context. The goal of this course is to develop a basic understanding of what is referred to as the ‘cradle’ of Western civilization.
ARTH 737 Egyptian Art and Archaeology
This course examines the artistic contribution of the ancient Egyptian civilization over a chronological continuum of more than three millennia, from the predynastic cultures in the north and south through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Special attention is given to the current archaeological discoveries in Egypt, the importance of hieroglyphs in understanding Egyptian art and the impact of Egypt throughout the history of Western art.
ARTH 748 Native American Art I
This course is an investigation into the artistic traditions of native North America, including the regions of the prehistoric Eastern Woodlands, historic Southeast, Northeast, sub-Arctic, Arctic and Northwest Coast. This course covers content, context, style, technique and the role of art in these diverse cultures.
ARTH 749 Native American Art II
This course is an investigation into the artistic traditions of native North America, including the regions of the Plateau, Great Plains, Great Basin, California and the American Southwest. This course covers content, context, style, technique and the role of art in these diverse cultures.
ARTH 750 Roman Art and Archaeology
This course examines the principal monuments of the Roman world and the archaeological practices that have brought them to light. The course examines painting, sculpture, architecture and material culture and how these cultural manifestations reflect social, political and aesthetic attitudes in the ancient world.
ARTH 753 Women in Art
This course surveys women’s involvement in and relationship to the visual arts from antiquity through postmodernism, including the factors that influenced women’s participation in art and architecture in various eras.
ARTH 755 Art and Architectural Treasures of the Vatican
This course concentrates on the historical development of major art and architectural monuments at the Vatican. Topics include such themes as the Vatican area in classical times, the Vatican cemetery, the Petrine tradition, Constantine’s church, New St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Stanze, and the Vatican gardens and museum collections.
ARTH 756 Art and Spirituality
The late 19th century and early 20th century witnessed the development of consciously abstracted and deliberately spiritual approaches to painting and sculpture in Europe. The most important styles, groups and artists of this trend include Symbolism, Nabis, Der Blaue Reiter, Suprematism, Kandinsky, Malevich and Mondrian. This course explores art and aesthetic development in their historical context.
ARTH 757 Media Art
This course introduces students to the breadth of new media in the digital and imaging arts and the recent history of artistic exploration into these media. Underscoring the surveys is the conception that new media has forced art history into expanding the cannon and its criteria for examining art. In particular, this course surveys their evolution out of traditional media. Graduate students are expected to actively participate in group discussion and develop critical thinking skills through independent research projects.
ARTH 762 Pre-Columbian Art
This course covers selected architectural complexes and associated visual images of the pre-Columbian peoples in Latin America. Architecture, painting, sculpture, ceramics, metalwork and textiles are studied with regard to their design and function within their historical and social milieu.
ARTH 763 History of Prints
This course follows the historical development of printmaking media and its most significant artists. Students are expected to develop the skills necessary to recognize the different media and to use the specific terminology of printmaking.
ARTH 764 Rock Art: Legacy of Lascaux
This course provides a comprehensive study of rock painting and rock carving sites around the world. Site studies from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania ad the Americas are discussed, along with contemporary issues in the field, such as site preservation.
ARTH 767 Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture
This course examines the major developments in the visual arts from 313 A.D. to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. Works of painting, sculpture, luxury arts and architecture are analyzed in terms of style and meaning (iconography), with an emphasis on the social and historical context in which these monuments were produced.
ARTH 768 Trecento Art
This course focuses on the paintings, sculptures and works of architecture produced in Italy during the late medieval/early Renaissance period from 1250 to 1400. Students are expected to learn to identify the stylistic trends characteristic of this time period. In addition, important individual works and decorative complexes such as Giotto’s Arena Chapel are analyzed in terms of their geographical, social, historical and devotional contexts. Issues of technique, conservation and restoration are addressed.
ARTH 769 Quattrocento Art
This course focuses on the works produced by great 15th-century Italian artists and architects such as Brunelleschi, Donatello, Masaccio, Alberti, Mantegna and Botticelli. By examining their techniques and patrons and the cultural considerations that influenced their works, this course shows that the Italian Renaissance was more than a rebirth of the ideals and art of classical antiquity.
ARTH 770 High Renaissance Art
This course focuses on the artistic accomplishments of the great geniuses of the High Renaissance such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bramante and their followers. Emphasis is placed on technical accomplishments, patronage and iconography. Critical readings and discussion of key works from the period are important components of this course.
ARTH 772 French Impressionism
This course explores the ideas and images of French Impressionism. Students are introduced to the styles and artistic objectives of the major French Impressionist artists, their use of specific media and their techniques. The course also addresses social, artistic and individual influences on each artist and their impact on the artist’s work. Students are expected to acquire and utilize research methodologies employed in art historical analysis.
ARTH 773 Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture of Mesoamerica
This course explores the art and architecture of the major civilizations of Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Teotihuacanos, Toltec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Aztec, and Mayan peoples. Major architectural monuments dating from 1200 BC to AD1520, sculpture, painting, manuscripts, fiber arts, ceramics, and metalwork are be discussed in terms of content, historical and social context, style, form, and the role of art in their respective cultures.
ARTH 774 African Art: Beyond the Object
This course explores the philosophical foundations of traditional African art and culture, including an in-depth analysis of fundamental concepts including human origins, the socialization process and the spiritual world. The course examines the place of African art at different levels of the African “life cycle” and the social, political, religious and historical contexts of the works that serve every segment of that cycle.
ARTH 775 Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture of Peru
This course explores the art and architecture of the major civilizations of Peru. Major architectural monuments dating from 2700 B.C. to A.D. 1532, sculpture, painting, fiber arts, ceramics and metalwork are discussed in terms of content, historical and social context, style, form and the role of art in their respective cultures
ARTH 781 Special Topics in Art History
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter. Each course focuses on various issues in the field of art history.
ARTH 788 Art History M.A. Thesis
Students enrolled in the art history M.A. program are required to complete a thesis demonstrating knowledge of the methods and theories in the discipline. Students must have topic approval from a faculty adviser and work under the close supervision of a faculty committee.
Historiography is a thorough introduction to the principle developments and writings in the field of art history, with an emphasis on developments from the 18th-century onward. Readings for class meetings will demonstrate various approaches to art history. Students write a 15-page paper and make a presentation to the class.
ARTH 701 Contemporary Art
This course responds to the diverse and personal nature of contemporary art. The course profiles outstanding artists from many aesthetic backgrounds, offering students significant examples to evaluate. Classes are organized around media such as painting, sculpture, photography, performance, film and television, and music. An in-depth, case-study approach is used throughout the course to provide information about personal sources and processes of art making.
ARTH 702 Art Criticism
This course confronts the nature and responsibility of art criticism today. Specific examples of contemporary critical writings are used to explore the foundation of the dialogue between art and the audience. Working within their areas of specialization, students practice critical methods, identify forums for critical inquiry, learn the basics of major art theories and identify current issues that increasingly form the critical discourse in art and design. Prerequisite: ARTH 701.
ARTH 703 Modern and Contemporary Critical Theory
This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the importance of critical theory and how it has shaped the practices of both artists and art historians in recent times. Through exploring various theoretical models, students are encouraged to consider the position of art and its histories within the socio-cultural realm.
ARTH 705 History and Theory of Installation Art
This course explores the complex and diverse works associated with multimedia and installation, and focuses specifically on American and British artists of the 1970s to the 1990s. Prerequisite: ARTH 702.
ARTH 706 Feminist Art
The history of feminist art is rich and varied. The second- and third-waves, from 1970 to the present, are the focus of this course. It also takes into account the immediate influences from the middle decades of the 20th century, in particular the impact of Women’s Liberation Movement and Stonewall. Feminism has been strongly influential on all areas of contemporary art, which is also a subject of discussion throughout the course. Finally, the notion of woman is deconstructed and examined as well. Students enhance their analytical thinking and interpretative skills by engaging in group discussions and completing independent research assignments on topics within feminist art. Prerequisite: ARTH 701, ARTH 702.
ARTH 707 Hogarth?s Satirical Art
William Hogarth was the foremost visual satirist of 18th century Great Britain. In this seminar, Hogarth’s oeuvre’s commentary on the social, political and intellectual issues of 1720s-1760s Great Britain and (to a lesser extent) his works’ influence on contemporaneous and subsequent artists is analyzed through readings, discussions, research and writings.
ARTH 708 Issues in Art History
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influence art history. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of professor.
ARTH 710 Issues in Contemporary Art
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influence contemporary art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 711 Issues in Modern Art
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influenced modern art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 712 Issues in Renaissance Art
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influenced Renaissance art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 713 The Pre-Raphaelite Movement
This is a seminar course examining painting, prints, and design associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Students read one or more readings that serve as the basis for discussion and debate for each class, as well as expose students to a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches. There often be short lecture components for the purpose of putting the material into context.
ARTH 714 Great Masters? Materials and Techniques
By exploring the physical character of paintings, manuscripts and stained-glass windows by northern and southern European artists from 1100 to 1660, students in this course understand how, and with what materials and techniques, artists created works of art. Through the study antique treatises and recipe books uncovering artists’ materials and techniques, as well as recent information revealed through scientific examination and conservation science, students gain insight into creative and technical processes of the masters.
ARTH 715 Native American Materials and Techniques
With a dual emphasis on historical and cultural contexts, this course examines the technique and practice of the various artistic and craft traditions of native North America.
ARTH 718 Issues in Medieval Art and Architecture
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influenced medieval art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 719 Issues in Ancient Art and Architecture
This seminar examines the issues, cultures and artists that influenced ancient art. Independent learning is encouraged as discussion and research skills are developed. Various relevant methodologies in the field are examined, such as stylistic analysis, iconographical interpretations, revisionist art historical trends, and primary source material and its validity. Prerequisite: Permission of the professor.
ARTH 719F Art and Architecture in Ancient Egypt
Pyramids Ancient Egypt and its pyramids have represented the apex in world architectural achievement since antiquity. This seminar examines the chronological development of the pyramid form, its functional synthesis in ancient Egyptian culture, and its transmission as an emblem for Egyptianization through time.
ARTH 726 Medieval Manuscripts
The medieval manuscript provided artists with the most important venue for painting for over 1200 years. Students learn how and why they were made by exploring production practices and patronage. The socio-historical context under which these fine works were created is also a significant component of this course.
ARTH 728 18th-century Art
This course is a general survey of 18th-century art, architecture and culture in Europe and America. Students are expected to gain familiarity with the important works of art and the major personalities in art and architecture in Europe and America during this period.
ARTH 733 Greek Art and Archaeology
This course examines the principal monuments of Greek art and archaeology. Works of painting, sculpture and architecture are discussed in terms of style, meaning and social context. The goal of this course is to develop a basic understanding of what is referred to as the ‘cradle’ of Western civilization.
ARTH 737 Egyptian Art and Archaeology
This course examines the artistic contribution of the ancient Egyptian civilization over a chronological continuum of more than three millennia, from the predynastic cultures in the north and south through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Special attention is given to the current archaeological discoveries in Egypt, the importance of hieroglyphs in understanding Egyptian art and the impact of Egypt throughout the history of Western art.
ARTH 748 Native American Art I
This course is an investigation into the artistic traditions of native North America, including the regions of the prehistoric Eastern Woodlands, historic Southeast, Northeast, sub-Arctic, Arctic and Northwest Coast. This course covers content, context, style, technique and the role of art in these diverse cultures.
ARTH 749 Native American Art II
This course is an investigation into the artistic traditions of native North America, including the regions of the Plateau, Great Plains, Great Basin, California and the American Southwest. This course covers content, context, style, technique and the role of art in these diverse cultures.
ARTH 750 Roman Art and Archaeology
This course examines the principal monuments of the Roman world and the archaeological practices that have brought them to light. The course examines painting, sculpture, architecture and material culture and how these cultural manifestations reflect social, political and aesthetic attitudes in the ancient world.
ARTH 753 Women in Art
This course surveys women’s involvement in and relationship to the visual arts from antiquity through postmodernism, including the factors that influenced women’s participation in art and architecture in various eras.
ARTH 755 Art and Architectural Treasures of the Vatican
This course concentrates on the historical development of major art and architectural monuments at the Vatican. Topics include such themes as the Vatican area in classical times, the Vatican cemetery, the Petrine tradition, Constantine’s church, New St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Stanze, and the Vatican gardens and museum collections.
ARTH 756 Art and Spirituality
The late 19th century and early 20th century witnessed the development of consciously abstracted and deliberately spiritual approaches to painting and sculpture in Europe. The most important styles, groups and artists of this trend include Symbolism, Nabis, Der Blaue Reiter, Suprematism, Kandinsky, Malevich and Mondrian. This course explores art and aesthetic development in their historical context.
ARTH 757 Media Art
This course introduces students to the breadth of new media in the digital and imaging arts and the recent history of artistic exploration into these media. Underscoring the surveys is the conception that new media has forced art history into expanding the cannon and its criteria for examining art. In particular, this course surveys their evolution out of traditional media. Graduate students are expected to actively participate in group discussion and develop critical thinking skills through independent research projects.
ARTH 762 Pre-Columbian Art
This course covers selected architectural complexes and associated visual images of the pre-Columbian peoples in Latin America. Architecture, painting, sculpture, ceramics, metalwork and textiles are studied with regard to their design and function within their historical and social milieu.
ARTH 763 History of Prints
This course follows the historical development of printmaking media and its most significant artists. Students are expected to develop the skills necessary to recognize the different media and to use the specific terminology of printmaking.
ARTH 764 Rock Art: Legacy of Lascaux
This course provides a comprehensive study of rock painting and rock carving sites around the world. Site studies from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania ad the Americas are discussed, along with contemporary issues in the field, such as site preservation.
ARTH 767 Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture
This course examines the major developments in the visual arts from 313 A.D. to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. Works of painting, sculpture, luxury arts and architecture are analyzed in terms of style and meaning (iconography), with an emphasis on the social and historical context in which these monuments were produced.
ARTH 768 Trecento Art
This course focuses on the paintings, sculptures and works of architecture produced in Italy during the late medieval/early Renaissance period from 1250 to 1400. Students are expected to learn to identify the stylistic trends characteristic of this time period. In addition, important individual works and decorative complexes such as Giotto’s Arena Chapel are analyzed in terms of their geographical, social, historical and devotional contexts. Issues of technique, conservation and restoration are addressed.
ARTH 769 Quattrocento Art
This course focuses on the works produced by great 15th-century Italian artists and architects such as Brunelleschi, Donatello, Masaccio, Alberti, Mantegna and Botticelli. By examining their techniques and patrons and the cultural considerations that influenced their works, this course shows that the Italian Renaissance was more than a rebirth of the ideals and art of classical antiquity.
ARTH 770 High Renaissance Art
This course focuses on the artistic accomplishments of the great geniuses of the High Renaissance such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bramante and their followers. Emphasis is placed on technical accomplishments, patronage and iconography. Critical readings and discussion of key works from the period are important components of this course.
ARTH 772 French Impressionism
This course explores the ideas and images of French Impressionism. Students are introduced to the styles and artistic objectives of the major French Impressionist artists, their use of specific media and their techniques. The course also addresses social, artistic and individual influences on each artist and their impact on the artist’s work. Students are expected to acquire and utilize research methodologies employed in art historical analysis.
ARTH 773 Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture of Mesoamerica
This course explores the art and architecture of the major civilizations of Mesoamerica, including the Olmec, Teotihuacanos, Toltec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Aztec, and Mayan peoples. Major architectural monuments dating from 1200 BC to AD1520, sculpture, painting, manuscripts, fiber arts, ceramics, and metalwork are be discussed in terms of content, historical and social context, style, form, and the role of art in their respective cultures.
ARTH 774 African Art: Beyond the Object
This course explores the philosophical foundations of traditional African art and culture, including an in-depth analysis of fundamental concepts including human origins, the socialization process and the spiritual world. The course examines the place of African art at different levels of the African “life cycle” and the social, political, religious and historical contexts of the works that serve every segment of that cycle.
ARTH 775 Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture of Peru
This course explores the art and architecture of the major civilizations of Peru. Major architectural monuments dating from 2700 B.C. to A.D. 1532, sculpture, painting, fiber arts, ceramics and metalwork are discussed in terms of content, historical and social context, style, form and the role of art in their respective cultures
ARTH 781 Special Topics in Art History
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter. Each course focuses on various issues in the field of art history.
ARTH 788 Art History M.A. Thesis
Students enrolled in the art history M.A. program are required to complete a thesis demonstrating knowledge of the methods and theories in the discipline. Students must have topic approval from a faculty adviser and work under the close supervision of a faculty committee.
Contact Art History
- arthistory@scad.edu
- admission@scad.edu
- Hong Kong/Savannah/eLearning: 800.869.7223 or 912.525.5100
- Atlanta: 877.722.3285 or 404.253.2700
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Ask Virtual Adviser
Events
- Winter Quarter Begins
Jan. 04, 2010 
"Critical Aesthetics in Contemporary Art" by Juli Carson, Ph.D.
Jan. 13, 2010
News
- Nov. 02, 2009
Ivy Hall lectures feature SCAD professors - Oct. 08, 2009
SCAD Museum of Art presents “A Warhol Trio" - Sep. 16, 2009
SCAD announces art history guest lectures - Jul. 24, 2009
Virginia Kiah portraits at SCAD Museum
Recognition
- Grix awarded SECAC travel grant
- Patricia Butz to present paper at AIA
- Anthony Mangieri to present paper at AIA
- Dziedzic present paper at art conference
Related Links
- ACA Gallery of SCAD
- Art History Symposium
- Blog: Art History
- SCAD Exhibitions
- SCAD Museum of Art
- Telfair Museum of Art
- The Writer's Studio - MySCAD
