ARTH 102: Symbols and Stories in Art

ARTH 102-002: Symbols/Stories in Western Art
(Spring 2011)

01:30 PM to 02:45 PM TR

Section Information for Spring 2011

This course provides an overview of the classical, Christian, and other popular narratives that resonate throughout the literary and visual arts of the Renaissance. Being an art history course, our focus will be on the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of the period, relying on primary documents to illuminate the context of the imagery viewed. We will use as our beacon paintings from the National Gallery of Art, with its superb collection of Renaissance paintings and sculpture. During this course, we will consider iconography—recognizing and deciphering symbols that help unravel what message the patron (or artist) was attempting to convey. The Renaissance is rich in meaningful imagery, with roots deeply embedded in the Christian narratives still familiar to many today. It was the world of the ancients, however, that Renaissance humanists were so intent on penetrating; like them, we will uncover these Greek and Roman archetypes by delighting in the same stories that have engaged, entertained, and even shocked readers and listeners for thousands of years. Our focus will be visual stimuli, but with an eye open to literary, musical, political, and even economic developments of the times.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Introduces themes and imagery in art. Approaches and traditions to explore vary with the instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core, Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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