HISTORY OF APPLIED ARTS

Compared with the classes of Medieval Art, Early Modern and Modern Art History, it considers a much broader spectrum of arts. Is it an optional course.

• ability to recognize the main art techniques of the pre-industrial era

• ability to discuss the reasons why a specific technique / medium / process was preferred

Students with diverse academic backgrounds are welcome. Knowledge of Western art before 1800 is not compulsory.

The introduction will address issues raised by the hierarchization of the arts, their organization in systems and their interpretation according to material and technical criteria. The body of the course will illustrate the main techniques developed for object making in the period spanning the sixth to the twentiteth century. Examples of goldsmithery, textiles, glyptics, glass-making, cabinet-making, wood-carving, coinage, metalwork and ceramics will be discussed.

Compulsory readings:

- Corrado Maltese (ed.), Le tecniche artistiche, Mursia, Milano 1983 or other editions (BAUM LIBRITESTO DEP 09301) (selection)

- Paul O. Kristeller, The Modern System of the Arts: A Study in the History of Aesthetics, part I, in "Journal of the History of Ideas", XII, 1951, pp. 496-527 (JSTOR)

- Giorgio Vasari, Introduzzione […] alle tre arti del disegno cioè architettura, pittura e scoltura, e prima dell’architettura, in Le vite de’ più eccellenti pittori, scultori e architettori, Giunti, Firenze 1568, ed. by R. Bettarini, P. Barocchi, Sansoni-S.P.E.S. Firenze 1966-87, I (1966), pp. 145-175 (capp. 28-35). Online edition: http://vasari.sns.it/consultazione/Vasari/indice.html

Non attending students shall contact the instructor. They will be assigned additional readings.

Oral exam via google meet.


The final note will consider:
60% notions provided trough the online presentations and the readings
40% ability to emply the notions acquired to compare different technical solutions

Commented presentations on moodle.

Italian

The current programm has been modified according to the indications provided by the authorities to face the current covid-19 epidemy. It may further change in the course of next weeks.

Inscription on moodle (moodle.unive.it, DM270) is compulsory.

The course starts on 31.3.20. For further information, please check the section news on the personal pages of the instructor.

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development