Crossroads of European Art

Crossroads of European Art

Jan Bazant

THREE HOURS PER WEEK

This series of lectures gives a comprehensive picture of European art history from ancient Greece and Rome to present times, with stress on Central Europe and Prague. In descriptions of art historical epochs the emphasis will be placed on iconography as the barometer of historical changes.
"Crossroads" in the lecture series' title has two meanings. 1: crucial points - the term emphasizes dynamism of European art history, it refers to the way European art evolved in time and how its epochs were chained. 2: places of intersection - the term emphasizes diversity in European art history, it refers to the way European art evolved in space and how innovations were transmitted from one cultural center to another.
Prague's artistic history is presented as a succession of crossroads of influences merging from/to different parts of Europe. Each lecture takes as a point of departure an "emblem", an architecture, sculpture or painting created in Bohemia. The originals of emblems are accessible in Prague and students will be expected acquaint themselves with these works of art before the relevant lectures.

Lectures will be accompanied by excursions to relevant historical sites in Prague.

Course requirements:

A mid-term, final exam, and a final essay.

1. Legacy of Ancient Greece

EMBLEM:

Vaclav Levý, Adam and Eve, statue (1849), National gallery, Nineteenth Century Czech art. Klaster sv. Anezky Ceske. U milosrdných 17, Old Town, Prague.

Contribution to the development of European art: cult of images, classical norm, urbanism, etc.
READING:
P. Kidson, "Architecture and City Planning", "The Figural Arts" in: The Legacy of Greece, ed. by M.I.Finley, 0xford 1984, 376-428.

2. Legacy of Ancient Rome

EMBLEM:
Coins of Borivoj II.(1100-1120), National Museum. Vaclavske namestí 68, New Town, Prague.

Contribution to the development of European art: portrait, panel painting, political art, main types of private and public buildings, etc.

READING:
From: P. Zanker, The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus, 1988.

3. Early Christian Art (1st-6th centuries)

EMBLEM:
I.P., Baptism of Christ, St. John altar (after 1520), The Virgin Mary church (Týn church). Old Town square, Old Town, Prague.

Contribution to the development of European art: Christian imagery, etc.

READING:
T.F.Mathews, The Clash of Gods. A Reinterpretation of Early Christian Art, Princeton 1993, 3-53.

4. Early Medival and Romanesque Art (7th-12th centuries)

EMBLEM:
Church of the Virgin Mary and Charles the Great (1350-1377). Ke Karlovu, New Town, Prague.

Contribution to the development of European art: concept of renaissance, city, arcaded courtyard, monumental architecture (basilica and rotunda), monumental painting, illuminated manuscript, etc.

READING:
From: H. Belting, H., Likeness and presence: a history of the image before the era of art, Chicago 1994.

5. Gothic Art (12th-13th centuries)

EMBLEM:
Augustinus, De civitate Dei, Prague, St. Vitus, c. 1200

Contribution to the development of European art: castle, cathedral, monumental sculpture, political art, etc.

READING:
From: M. Camille, 989, The Gothic Idol. Ideology and Image-Making in Mediaeval Art, Cambridge 1989. From: P. Williamson, Gothic Sculpture 1140-1300, New Haven, London 1995.

6. Late Gothic Art (14th century)

EMBLEM:
Votive picture of Ocko from Vlasim (1371), National Gallery, Old Bohemian Art. Jirske namestí 33, Prague Castle.
Contribution to the development of European art: market-hall, city-hall, altarpiece, woodcut, sculptural portrait, art for private consumption, etc.
READING:
From: H.W. Van Os, et alii, The Art of Devotion in the Late Middle Ages in Europe. 1300-1500, London 1994.

7. Renaissance Art (15th century)

AEMBLEM:
Astronomical clock (1462), Old Town City hall. Staromestske namestí, Old Town, Prague.

Contribution to the development of European art: revival of classical norm, painted portrait, engraving, perspective painting, trompe l'oeil, etc.
READING:
From: E.H.Gombrich, Story of Art.

8. High Renaissance and Mannerism (16th century)

EMBLEM:
Hendrick III van Cleve, The Cesi palace and garden, painting (1584), National Gallery, European Art. Hradcanske namestí 15, Hradcany, Prague.
Contribution to the development of European art: palace, villa, landscape painting, history of art, etc.

READING:
From: L. Puppi, Palladio, London 1975.

9. Baroque Art (17th century)

EMBLEM:
K. Skreta, Dionysius Miseroni and his Family, painting (1653) National Gallery, Old Bohemian Art. Jirske namestí 33, Prague Castle.
Contribution to the development of European art: passions in sculpture and painting, vedute, genre painting, group portraiture, still life, ceiling painting, etching, etc.
READING:
From: S. Schama, The Embarassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age.

10. High Baroque and Rococo Art (18th century)

EMBLEM:
J.L.Kraker, ceiling painting (Apotheosis of St. Nicholas), St. Nicholas church, Mala strana (1760). Malostranske namestí, Mala strana,Prague.
Contribution to the development of European art: ceiling painting, monumental staircase, theatre, satirical painting, porcelain, etc.
READING:
From: J.D.Hunt, The Figure in the Landscape: Poetry, Painting and Gardens during the Eighteenth Century, Baltimore 1989. From: K. Harries, The Bavarian Rococo Church. Between Faith and Aestheticism, New Haven 1983.

11. Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, etc.. (late 18th-early 19th centuries)

EMBLEM:
N. Grund, Roman ruin, painting (c. 1760), National Gallery, Old Bohemian Art. Jirske namestí 33, Prague Castle.
Contribution to the development of European art: avantguard art, revival styles, lithography, classical archaeology, etc.
READING:

From: R. Rosenblum, Transformations in Late Eighteenth Century Art, Princeton 1967.

12. Realism, Impressionism, etc. (19th century)

EMBLEM:
V. Hynais, Curtain of the National theater (1883). Narodní trída, Old town, Prague.
Contribution to the development of European art: museum and other new types of public buildings, apartment blocks, photography, modern art, etc.
READING:
From: L. Nochlin, Realism, Harmondsworth 1971

13. Modern Art (20th century)

EMBLEM:
Adolf Loos' entry to Chicago Tribune competition, 1922.
Contribution to the development of art: abstract art and other new concepts of art, publicity,

film, post-modern art, etc.
READING:
From: H. Belting, The End of the History of Art?, Chicago 1987.

14. Contemporary Art

EMBLEM:
"Dancing House", Frank O. Gehry, V. Milunic, Prague, 1994-1996
Contribution to the development of art: politically uncorrect art, sgrafitti, computer art, etc.
READING:
From: P. Greenaway, Prospero's Books.

A Film of Shakespeare's Tempest, London 1991.

15. Schedule reserve