Offerta Accademica

Christian Art and Architecture in Rome. From Antiquity to the Present

Ralf van Bühren

Orario:

This course introduces to the rich artistic and architectural heritage of Rome’s past and present. Classroom lectures are supplemented with on-site lectures (in churches and museums*). The city of Rome offers an unique opportunity to combine academics and faith in a meaningful and enlightening manner. In this regard, the purpose of this course is to encourage an appreciation of the aesthetic performances of Christianity throughout the ages. The grade for the course is based on active attendance, one short paper and two written exams. Class schedule: Constantine, continuity and change in the 4th century. Christianization of the city of Rome: church buildings and pictorial decorations from the 4th to the 9th centuries. Pilgrimage and devotion to saints. Reused icons and architectural spolia in Romanesque churches. The power of devotional images in medieval Rome. Architecture of the mendicant orders in the 13th and 14th centuries: artistic patronage and architectural transformation in the Middle Ages. Renaissance art: mimesis, perspective and the reception of classical antiquity. Baroque art: rhetorical gestures and facial expressions. Church architecture after the Council of Trent: the impact of aesthetic changes and liturgical reforms on the sacred space. Churches of the 20th and 21st centuries: the impact of secular architecture and liturgical movement, of Vatican Council II (1962‒1965) and of the liturgical reform (since 1964). Bibliography: The readings for this course will be drawn from different sources (books, articles, PDF files). The material will be taken from the bibliography handed out during the first lesson. Self-assessment questions for study will be distributed before both exams. * There will be entrance fees for the Vatican Museums we shall visit for on-site lectures (ca. 18 Euros). Thursday 15.00‒17.45 In this course, the number of Santa Croce students is limited to a maximum of five. The course will already start in early February, 2024.