This course follows the story of Western European visual art, starting from the work of fourteenth century Sienese and Florentine artists, such as Duccio, Giotto and Masaccio, through to the High Renaissance Vatican projects of Raphael and Michelangelo. It will consider how writers, patrons and institutions shaped painting, sculpture and architecture, explore the different context in which Northern artists such as Van Eyck, Dürer and Holbein practiced and reflect on how this period continues to influence what we consider 'beautiful' or 'great art' today. We will use visual analysis techniques to study and discuss panel paintings, frescoes, sculpture and buildings. Each session will include small group exercises and everyone makes a (very) short end-of-term presentation.
No experience is required, but the ability to clearly see detail in images projected onto a screen is important. An afternoon visit to the Fitzwilliam will also be arranged.