Aims
This course aims to:
• introduce five major centres of the European Renaissance and show their significance in the development of Renaissance Art and Architecture
• demonstrate how and why different countries developed unique local style
• consider the importance of patrons in artistic development in each of the centres
Content
This course will examine five key cities of Renaissance Europe to consider the importance of location in the development of art and architecture. The five chosen cities each present a different model of Renaissance society, and we will consider how different national, religious and political structures changed the nature of patronage and resulted in different forms of art and architecture. We begin with the city of Siena, a place where Renaissance forms first emerged and where the buildings of government present early Renaissance style. To the north in the city of Bruges expertise in the use of oil paint allowed artists to create remarkable detail and realism. In France the city of Blois was a royal centre and home to a magnificent palace enlarged by successive monarchs and standing as a textbook of French Renaissance architectural development. Moving to Spain, the city of Granada presents a different version of Renaissance style in its blending of Spanish forms with Moorish influences. Finally we return to Italy and the city of Vicenza, home to the late Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, and a cultural centre in the late 16th century. Through the study of these five diverse locations, you will gain a broad understanding of artistic and architectural development in the Renaissance period across Europe, whilst engaging with key buildings and artworks.
Presentation of the course
Teaching will take the form of interactive lectures illustrated with slides. There will be a strong element of discussion in each session.
Course sessions
1. Siena - City of Ceremony and Good Government
2. Bruges - The powerful influence of the Northern Renaissance
3. Blois - Royalty, Riches, and Murder on the banks of the Loire
4. Granada - Chapels and Palaces of the Catholic Monarchs
5. Vicenza - Nobility and the expression of Humanist culture
Learning outcomes
You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course.
The learning outcomes for this course are:
• to be able to discuss the differences in art and architecture between five key centres of the Renaissance
• to understand how important factors in the development of the Renaissance are geographic location and patronage
• to be able to name some of the key artworks and buildings of the European Renaissance
Required reading
The online resource from the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
https://www.metmuseum.org/-/media/files/learn/for-educators/publications-for-educators/renaissance.pdf
The expectation is not that it will be read in total, but used as a resource to dip-in to areas of interest.
