Course Description
Study of the production and display of art in Rome, focusing on use of ancient art in later periods and development of early museums. Special emphasis on the display of classical art in Rome’s churches, gardens, and museums, and its influence on collections and installations across Europe and North America.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional research and class presentation, including a major
term-long research project which will result in a paper of at
least 25 pages in length and an oral presentation to the class
during the semester.
Athena Title
The Art of Rome
Non-Traditional Format
Course offered on the UGA Classics in Rome program.
Prerequisite
CLAS 1000 or CLAS 1000E or CLAS 1000H or CLAS 1010 or CLAS 1010E or CLAS 1010H or CLAS 1020 or CLAS 1020E or CLAS 1020H or CLAS 3000 or CLAS 3010 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015E or CLAS 3030 or CLAS 3040 or CLAS3050 or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- To give students an overview of art production in the ancient city of Rome, its Greek, Italic, and Etruscan interactions, and its uses in antiquity
- To situate students’ knowledge of ancient art in the context of the medieval and modern city of Rome, especially as part of the histories of church decoration, the Renaissance Garden, and the early museum
- To develop students’ skills for analyzing the display of classical artwork, with coursework focusing on issues of preservation, reuse, and provenance; art collecting; and the contextualization of classical art in museums
- Students integrate onsite experiences with churches, gardens, and museums to expand their critical understanding of art curation, particularly as it relates to the installation or invocation of classical art in contemporary settings across Europe and North America.
- Students produce writing and other academic work appropriate to the subject of Roman art and to the disciplines of classics, classical art, and its reception.
Topical Outline
- Basics of Roman Art Production and Display: Major types (e.g., sculpture, portraiture, painting, ceramics, architectural/monumental), techniques, and styles/periods
- Roman Art in Context: Artistic display as part of ancient civic, religious, and domestic spaces and histories; Origins of modern art museums in the Renaissance
- Collection and Movement: Early archaeology and antiquarianism, the development of private collections and garden displays, ancient and modern movement of artwork
- Preservation and/or Reuse? Conditions of survival; spoliation of ancient artwork, especially in churches from late antiquity through the Renaissance
- Influence and Invocation: Continuing impact of the display of classical art in Rome on the strategies and norms of museum curation and art installation in Europe and North America.
