Italian Art Through the Centuries: an Introduction to Art History in Rome

This course is an introduction to Italian Art History from the foundation of Rome through the Baroque period. Rome’s layered artistic heritage is the perfect setting to examine the transformation of the Italian urban and artistic landscapes throughout the centuries.

During this course, students will understand Italian art in its social and cultural contexts. Students will learn to recognize the visual elements found in the various styles and periods of Italian art and architecture, and this course will provide the tools to strengthen their aesthetic comprehension and critical observation.

This course is divided into four sections: the first analyzing the ruins and monuments of ancient Rome focusing on the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Imperial forums found along Rome’s Via dei Fori Imperiali, and the area surrounding the Colosseum. Next students will be introduced to Emperor Constantine and Rome’s architectural and artistic shift into Early Christianity and the art of the medieval period. The third section analyzes the artistic technical developments during the Renaissance and the works of master artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael. The fourth section studies the art of papal Rome during the Baroque period through the artistic heritage of Caravaggio and Bernini.