Art of Middle Ages

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

The powerful images and the creative architectural monuments made in western Europe during the Middle Ages provide the focus of this course. Often described as the “Age of Faith,” the era begins with the Early Christian period of the late Roman Empire and ends with the onset of the Italian Renaissance. We will consider the formation and evolution of a “medieval art,” its roots in classical sources, its major functions and forms, its tendency toward abstraction, its role in the lives of medieval men and women, and its extraordinary ability to persuade and inspire. Format: Primarily lecture, with readings and discussion. No prerequisites, but previous art history course (ARTH 101) or medieval studies courses are helpful.