Pilgrimage and Renaissance Art

3 units

Tourism of today has its antecedents in the medieval and Renaissance practice of pilgrimage. Not usually associated with the Renaissance, pilgrimage was nevertheless an entrenched component of Renaissance life. It stimulated the development of art, particularly with relationship to the churches, which profited considerably, along with their respective towns and cities. This course will look at the practice of pilgrimage as a major catalyst in the development of Renaissance art. Covering works at St. Peter's in Rome, San Francesco in Assisi, il Santo in Padua, and the Basilica of Loreto, for example, we will go on our modern day pilgrimage to see and experience the major monuments and art works of such artists as Giotto, Donatello, and Michelangelo. We will also visit the Saint Louis Art Museum.