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AH 106 Renaissance through Modern Art Syllabus

Studies in Central Europe:
Primary Cities: Olomouc, Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, and Prague

Monty Helm, Humanities Division
Owensboro Community and Technical College
4800 New Hartford Rd., Owensboro, KY 42303

Phone: 270 686-4626
Email: monty.helm@kctcs.edu
Website: www.thestudioarts.com

General Course Introduction

The artworks, monuments, and architecture of Central Europe include a wide variety of examples representative of the periods ranging from the Renaissance to Modern Art. Students will examine first hand important works that have contributed to the excellence of these eras. Masterworks by artists such as Leonardo da Vince, Raphael, Titian, Peter Parler, Brueghel, Rembrandt, and Vermeer are among the Renaissance and Baroque artists the students will encounter. Works by Klimt, Mucha, Schiele, and Kokoschka, artists who lived and worked in Central Europe, are among the modern masters who will be studied.
Much of the older architecture of the area is primarily Baroque, falling into various styles and combinations - being Bohemian, Imperial, and the German Baroque - all of which are influenced at some level by the neighboring Italian Baroque. Many structures that were once in Gothic in style have been reconstructed in the Baroque, yet still maintain some of their original gothic features. More modern structures representative of the Art Nouveau Style will provide the student with an interesting contrast between these architectural ages. Visiting public, religious, imperial, and domestic buildings in all of the given areas will introduce the student to a wide array of historic architecture.
Course Description

AH 106 is an art history course covering the major periods and movements in the visual arts beginning with the Renaissance and extending to Modern Art Period of the 20th century. Students will examine specific artists and their works that are representative of the consequential periods. Major focus is directed to the two and three-dimensional art forms, specifically: painting, sculpture, and architecture.

Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are for the student to gain knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of the major art periods and movements; the significant developments by individual artists; and impact of specific art works.
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(General Outline of Periods in reference to sites)

High Gothic: Peter Parler's Architecture at Prague

Renaissance Masters
Italian Masters: Leonardo da Vinci (Krakow), Rahpael (Vienna), Titian… (numerous sites)
Northern Masters: Lucas Cranach, Durer, and Brueghel… (numerous sites)
Italian Renaissance Architecture at Telc

The Baroque Masters in painting, sculpture, and architecture (numerous sites).

Neo Classical and Romantic painting and sculpture (numerous sites)

Realism and Impressionism (Prague and other sites)

Expressions, Symbolism: Kokoschka, Schiele, Klimt, Mucha … (Prague, Vienna, and other sites).
Art Nouveau (Numerous Sites)

Cubism and Surrealism (Prague, Vienna, and other sites).

Abstract Expressionism (Prague and other sites)

Post Modern Central Europe (numerous sites)

Course Study and Research:

Students will conduct research from direct sources on a regular basis at important sites in Central Europe. There will be preliminary site sessions for planning and instruction. In addition, there will be summary sessions - where information is shared and analyzed.

The scope of this course covers art periods and movements from the Renaissance to the Modern Period. The central European version of the course differs in this, due to the fact of the touring schedule. Each site visited will host monuments unique to itself, representing some or many of the periods covered in and beyond the class outline.
In classroom meetings the characteristics of each period will be examined. Prior to site visits, orientations and discussion related to the artworks and structures in the agenda will be conducted.The culmination of each student's research will manifest in the form a Student Art History Journal. In this journal, students will record information and observations on monuments found at the relative sites. Students may broaden their journal entries by later introducing pertinent information found in the library and online in the recommended bibliography. The Art History Journal is the sole means of measuring the student's experience and research in the Central European version of this course. The journal may be handed in directly if legible or reformatted into the form of a document. Either form can by emailed or mailed directly to my address within one month after your return to the United States. All documents will be returned to the student after examination.

ART HISTORY JOURNAL - METHOD OF RESEARCH ON MONUMENTS

Monuments in Painting, Sculpture, and the Crafts:
Site Local (Gallery, Museum, Palace…)
Artist and Period
Artist Origin
Title and Date of Artwork
Description: Media, Scale, Imagery, and Iconography. General impression of the artwork and relative information.

Architecture:
Location
Site
Architect's
Period/s and Dates
Functionality
Description: Media, Scale, Imagery, and Iconography. General impression of the structure and relative information.
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Bibliography

Anthony F. Janson. History of Art Vol. II. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, recent editions. (available in most libraries)

History of Modern Art (Recent Edition) by H. H. Arnason and Marla F. Prather

Reference Works in Helm Library at Western Kentucky University
The following are recommended for use:
· The dictionary of art (Grove). Ref N31 .D5 1996
· Encyclopedia of world art (McGraw-Hill). Ref N31 .E4833
· International dictionary of art and artists (St. James). Ref N33 .I55x 1990
· The Oxford dictionary of art. Ref N33 .O93 1997
· A dictionary of art titles: the origins of the names and titles of 3,000 works of art. Ref N33 .R56 2000
· Illustrated dictionary of architecture (McGraw-Hill). Ref NA31 .B83 1998

Recommend: On-line Links
http://www.abcgallery.com/index.html
http://www.artcyclopedia.com.html
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General Education Competencies:

I. Communicate Effectively. Students will communicate effectively using standard written English and critical discussion. Student will exercise this ability through writing assignments and group discussion on specific sites and monuments.
II. Think Critically. Students will think critically and make connections in learning across the disciplines. Analyze and discuss works of art, their content and how they relate to the human experience. Furthermore, to examine intrinsic meaning along with functional application offering the student creative insight to new ideas, images, and concepts; resulting in awareness of the manifestation of art in society and how it has and is directly affecting their thought process.
III. Learn Independently. Students will analyze, summarize, and interpret a variety of artwork directly from sources in their original context.
IV. Examine Relationships in Diverse and Complex Environments. Art History courses in relation to Diverse and Complex Environments allow the student to critically examine aspects of cultural diversity through the visual arts. Works of art provide students with a common ground to discuss and interpret intellectual concepts reflected by the society in focus - this mirror of the given culture is presented by the artist - an individual motivated by a variety of reasons: self-expression, intellect, financial gain, or simply in search of understanding.

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