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Art & Patronage in 15th Century Florence - HOA00004H

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  • Department: History of Art
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Jessica Richardson
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module summary

This module focusses on artistic production in the city of Florence during the fifteenth century.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module focusses on artistic production in the city of Florence during the fifteenth century. Rather than domination by a few great masters, in the first weeks we will investigate some of the many workshops and collaborative projects which lay behind the early renaissance. Thus Masolino will be studied alongside Masaccio, while Donatello's and Ghiberti's commissions will be considered in their civic and institutional contexts.

Seminars will be devoted to crucial scientific and technical advances such as mathematical perspective, anatomical studies and new drawing techniques as well as the imitation of ancient art and new approaches to visual narrative. Artistic developments went hand in hand with changing patterns in patronage as new types of painting and sculpture evolved to meet the clients demands. One object of the module is to examine the general shift from the predominance of guild and corporate patronage for public locations early in the century, towards private and family commissions for the domestic household which encouraged the emergence of new genres such as small bronzes, garden sculpture and mythological painting later in the century.

NB. A knowledge of Italian would be a distinct advantage, but is not a pre-requisite for this module.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the course students should have acquired:

  • A familiarity with the works of art produced by a range of painters and sculptors in fifteenth-century Florence.
  • A knowledge of the social, economic and political conditions that influenced artistic production in the city, and an ability to analyse the works in relation to their historical context.
  • An understanding of the major technical developments achieved by artists in the period.
  • The ability to analyse the works of art in terms of fifteenth-century language and art theory.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Assessed Essays: two 2,000 word essays		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Assessed Essays: two 2,000 word essays		 N/A 100

Module feedback

You will receive feedback on assessed work within the timeframes set out by the University - please check the Guide to Assessment, Standards, Marking and Feedback for more information.

The purpose of feedback is to help you to improve your future work. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further, you are warmly encouraged to meet your Supervisor during their Office Hours.

Indicative reading

  • Gene Brucker, Renaissance Florence, New York 1969 (& later eds. Univ. of California Press)
  • John M. Najemy, A History of Florence 1200-1575, Oxford 2008 (especially Chapters 8-13)
  • Richard Trexler, Public Life in Renaissance Florence (various eds)
  • Michael Baxandall, Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-century Italy, Oxford 1985 & later eds.
  • Martin Wackernagel, The World of the Florentine Renaissance Artist, trans. Alison Luchs, Princeton 1981
  • Evelyn Welch, Art and Society in Italy 1350-1500, Oxford 1997
  • J. Dunkerton, S. Foister, D. Gordon, N. Penny, Giotto to D ¼rer: Early Renaissance Painting in the National Gallery, London, New Haven and London 1991
  • Anabel Thomas, The Painter's Practice in Renaissance Tuscany, Cambridge 1995


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.