Teaching code

4S02191

Credits

12

Coordinator

Diana Sergeeva Dobreva

Language

Italian

Moodle Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

The main aim of the course on Archaeology and History of Greek and Roman Art (part II) is to acquire useful knowledge in identification and typological, functional and chronological classification of the artistic and artisan expressions of the Greek and Roman civilisations between 9th cent. BC to the beginning of the 4th cent. AD.

Program

The course aims to introduce to the study of architecture and decorative arts in Greece and Rome from the 9th century BC to the beginning of the 4th century AD: it will consider the main typologies of buildings and how they were decorated through the combined analysis of textual and epigraphic sources and the material evidence in relation to contemporary society and culture. The syllabus comprises the following learning modules:

1. Introduction
- Historical and geographical background
- Urban spaces in Greece and Rome
- Building materials and techniques

2. Architecture of public spaces
- City walls and gates
- Agorai and Fora and their annexed buildings
- Cult buildings
- Spectacle buildings
- Baths and water supply

3. Architecture of private spaces
- Palaces
- Houses and villae
- Funerary architecture

4. Decorative arts
- Architectural elements
- Floor and wall mosaics
- Wall paintings

5. Sculpture:
- Greek models;
- Hellenistic repertoire;
- Roman historical representations;
- Major triumphal monuments;

6. Portraits:
- The lost Greek art and the Roman copies (adopting the Greek art);
- Types of statue groups;
- Links between Greek and Roman cultures;

7. Pottery:

- Greek and Magno-Greek pottery:
a) Productions and repertoire;
b) In the potter’s workshop;
c) Black figure vase-painting;
d) Red figure vase-painting;

- Roman pottery:
a) Production and trade;
b) Consumption and globalisation;

8. Glass
- Technology and workshops
- Hellenistic mould-made glass
- Glass cameo technique
- Blown-made glass

Follow-up meetings:
The course will provide further insights into the subject from a transversal perspective, looking at the relationship between Greek and Roman sclupture and architecture and the transmission and reinterpretation of visual culture ad the globalisation of Roman taste.

No prior knowledge of the subject in required, but some basic knowledge of Greek and Roman history and of ancient geography (with the aid of an historical atlas) is recommended. It is strongly recommended that students attend follow-up meetings and seminars, as well as take part in archaeological excavations organised by the Department.
Classes will rely extensively on PowerPoint presentations that will be made available to the students on the Moodle e-learning platform. Teaching materials include slides to be integrated with reference readings.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

The aim of the exam is to test the expected learning outcomes described above. It consists of 10 written questions: students will be asked to identify and date some monuments and artifacts and to describe and discuss their stylistic and technical characteristics (on the basis of the images included in the PowerPoint presentations). An example of the test will be given during the lectures.
The final assessment will be based on the students’ knowledge and ability to identify the monuments and the objects presented during the lectures, to give a technical description and chronological overview, as well as to draw broader conclusions on the social, economic, historical and cultural framework in which they were produced.