AH11: VisualCulture Since 1400

This course surveys the art of the Western world, from the Renaissance to the Modern period.  Our journey begins in fourteenth-century Italy, with the birth of Renaissance culture.  From there we retrace the course of canonical art history during the centuries that followed.  We shall do so by studying the major trends and movements that the field, including Mannerism, the Baroque, the Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Impressionism, and Modernism.  Along the way we will not only study individual artists and artworks, but also consider larger issues such as the changing role of the artist in society, cultural politics, and the impact of technological advancement.  Though we shall focus primarily on Western Europe, we will touch upon art in the Americas as well.  Similarly, though paintings will be our primary concern, we will also study architecture, sculpture and decorative art objects.

AH 15: History of Architecture

This course surveys the major periods and key monuments in the history of architecture – largely in the West – from Antiquity to the present. Topics include Greek and Roman temples and civic architecture; Medieval cathedrals and mosques; Renaissance and Baroque cities, buildings and gardens; the Renaissance treatise on architecture; Early Modern factories and gardens; Machine Age museums and houses; and contemporary architectural developments of several sorts.

AH 135: Renaissance & Baroque Architecture

As we consider the shape of cities and the role of monuments within them in the twenty first century, it is worthwhile examining how architects and patrons of the past dealt with similar issues when they first set about articulating a modern (humane) world view. The Renaissance and Baroque periods count among the most fruitful eras of experimentation in architecture and urban design, and they continue to exert a strong influence on the west today. This course surveys the architecture and urbanism of fifteenth through early eighteenth-century Europe, focusing primarily on Italy. Topics of study include the Renaissance revival of classical antiquity, the changing nature of architectural practice, the role of religious orders like the Jesuits in the dissemination of architectural style and taste, and the importance of illustrated books in advancing theoretical and practical notions about architecture and the city.

AH 180: The Fundamentals of Architecture

This course provides students with an introduction to the study of architecture, urban design and the environment through the analysis of architectural form, and through a consideration of architectural theory. The course focuses on design principles, vocabulary, process methodologies, building craft and representation, and examines the relationship between practice and theory in architecture. The intent of the course is to develop a profound awareness and understanding of the built environment through rigorous analysis, in situ observations, and studio based investigations. Finally, the course considers the challenges, choices and responsibilities associated with the discipline today.