Course Objectives

This course offers an introduction to the art and architecture of ancient Egypt, the Near East, Greece and Italy. The material will be presented through lectures, assigned readings, in-class discussions, and occasionally, documentary films. Lectures and discussions considering a particular artistic medium or historical region will be combined with more general surveys of art historically significant works from these ancient cultures. At the end of the semester you will be able to recognize works of art historical value, articulate and discuss diverse artistic styles, media and methods of artistic production, develop and implement a specialized vocabulary for formal analysis and identify topics for further research.

Texts

Aruz, Joan, Art of the First Cities
Boardman, John, Athenian Black Figure Vases
Boardman, John, Athenian Red Figure Vases : The Archaic Period : A handbook
*Boardman, John, The Oxford History of Classical Art (to be purchased by all students.)
Brendel, Otto J., A Prolegomena to the Study of Roman Art
Groenewegen-Frankfort, H A and Bernard Ashmole, Art of the Ancient World: Painting, Pottery, Sculpture
Janson, H.W., History of Art, 6th edition
Kleiner, Diana E.E., Roman Sculpture
Malek, Jaromir, Egyptian Art
Preziosi, Donald and Louise A. Hitchcock, Aegean Art and Architecture
Spivey, Nigel Jonathan, Etruscan Art
Zanker, Paul, translated by Alan Shapiro, The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus