Course details
Tutors
Aims
This course aims to:
- introduce three major artists of the European Renaissance and put them into the context of the time
- examine how artists helped to link European centres leading to the transfer of skills and knowledge
- introduce the basic terminology of art and architecture, and develop skills of visual and comparative analysis
Course content
This course offers you the opportunity to discover five of the most intriguing artistic personalities of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century. In a time of substantial artistic production, these ‘Renaissance Giants’ were exceptionally talented producing art, sculpture, drawings, prints and architecture, with their names known across western Europe. Leonardo da Vinci was based in Milan for much of his working life but his fame resulted in commissions from many centres and ultimately an invitation to France from King Francis I. Albrecht Dürer was equally talented, a skilled painter who studied mathematics, geometry, Latin, and humanist literature. After visiting Venice, Dürer helped to bring Renaissance ideas to Germany and in 1498 he published The Apocalypse, the first book entirely produced by an artist. Raphael and Michelangelo shaped the visual culture of Rome through their many artistic and architectural commissions. Raphael lived only 37 years whilst Michelangelo lived until the age of 88 but both had a massive impact. Finally, Hans Holbein found fame and prestige at the court of Henry VIII bringing his realism and symbolic language to Tudor England. As we examine the lives and output of these men you will learn skills of visual analysis and discover how their work shaped European visual culture.
What to expect on this course
Teaching will take the form of illustrated slides with a strong element of discussion. Each session will focus on a different centre immersing us in the art and architecture of the location. You are encouraged to ask questions and share your response to the artworks and architecture we encounter.
Course sessions
- Leonardo da Vinci – Beyond the Last Supper, the impact of genius
- Albrecht Dürer – German realism and the power of printmaking
- Raphael Sanzio – Art and architecture in Renaissance Rome
- Hans Holbein – Bringing Renaissance style to the court of Henry VIII
- Michelangelo Buonarotti – Shaping the late Renaissance in Florence and Rome
Learning outcomes
As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:
- discuss and compare the output of five major artists of the Renaissance period
- place the work of these artists into the context of European visual culture
- learn skills of visual analysis which can be employed to examine any artwork or architecture
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.