Topics in Medieval Art: Art & Science in the Middle Ages

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This class will explore the relationship between art and science in the Middle Ages. In particular, we will examine the ways in which medieval painters, sculptors, and architects engaged with the cultural phenomenon of ?encyclopedism? by creating artworks that sought to capture all the world?s knowledge in a single visual program. In our exploration of this topic we will consider a wide range of works, from medieval maps and scientific manuscripts to large-scale tapestries and the architectural programs of the great Gothic cathedrals. Central themes include text-image relationships and the role of pictorial techniques, such as allegory, personification, and analogy for visualizing complex ideas. We will also examine the representation of knowledge in medieval poetry and see how medieval authors employed ekphrasis to create visual artworks within their texts to serve as placeholders for encyclopedic learning. 3 credits