Learning objectives

The course aims to: train the student on the evolutionary lines related to western architecture of the 4th-12th century; analyze the internal dynamics of the medieval building, from the conception to the conclusion; consider the main figures related to the architectural commission, such as the sponsor, the architect, the workers. The learning outcomes are to guarantee the acquisition of correct reading and evaluation skills of medieval architectural forms through a specific and precise vocabulary, as well as to facilitate the knowledge of the icnographic and decorative models of the Latin West. At the end of the course, the student will be able to: understand and analyze a medieval monument; recognize the cultural environment in which a specific monument was built; apply the models of reading and interpretation of architectural forms; be able to communicate the history of the monument with an adequate vocabulary.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Students are strongly advised to have completed the course in Medieval Art History or, at least, to have attended its lectures. A general knowledge of the principal artistic developments of the Middle Ages is an essential prerequisite for understanding the architectural languages that evolved between the fourth and the fourteenth centuries.
At the beginning of the course, a number of fundamental concepts concerning the principal architectural solutions adopted during the medieval period will in any case be reviewed and discussed.

Program

Course contents
The course is organised into a series of modules, each devoted to the study of specific themes that contribute to an understanding of medieval architectural developments, with particular emphasis on the Western tradition.
The course will address the following topics:
- the chronological framework and the principal stages in the development of medieval architectural languages;
medieval building types according to their function;
- ground plans, elevations, and the constituent elements of medieval buildings;
- the functional organisation of spaces within the medieval church;
- the medieval building site and its principal actors, with particular attention to architects, craftsmen, and building materials;
- the development of medieval architecture, from its Early Christian origins to the High Middle Ages.
Bibliography
A detailed bibliography will be provided before the beginning of the course.
Course materials will be available from the 30 e lode copy centre, Via Timavo 16, Verona (Tel. +39 045 8007862; e-mail: 30eoltre@gmail.com).

Didactic methods

Teaching is delivered primarily through in-person lectures, during which the course contents are presented and critically discussed.
The course is structured into three main sections:
- an introductory section devoted to the presentation of the technical concepts and methodological tools required for the analysis and interpretation of medieval architecture;
- a second section focusing on the diachronic development of medieval architecture and its architectural languages;
- a final section consisting of seminar-based study visits to selected medieval monuments of particular architectural significance. During these site visits, students are expected to take an active role in observing, analysing, and discussing the architectural characteristics of the monuments under examination.

Learning assessment procedures

Assessment is based on an oral examination.
No distinction is made between attending and non-attending students. Both groups are assessed on the same syllabus, and no additional course requirements apply.
The duration of the oral examination is commensurate with the student's performance and generally ranges from approximately 10 to 40 minutes.

Evaluation criteria

The examination covers the topics discussed during the lectures as well as the knowledge acquired through the study of the course bibliography.
Assessment will focus on the student's ability to organise and critically apply the knowledge acquired, to identify and analyse the constituent features of the case studies, to place the buildings examined within their historical and cultural context by establishing appropriate connections with the period in which they were constructed, and to employ specialised disciplinary terminology accurately and appropriately.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade is awarded on a 30-point scale.

Exam language

Italiano.