Description
[Ancient/Medieval] We focus primarily on masterpieces of art and architecture from the great civilizations of the Mediterranean Basin and Near East with an eye towards analyzing and defining their diverse styles. We seek to understand how cultural issues—from that of religion, social class, and gender—in part shaped these works, but also understand the full power of the individual genius behind them. The tools, techniques, and materials that allowed for bold artistic expression are examined. We also broach non-traditional subject matter, the magnificent but undervalued art of the periphery, from the steppes of Kazakhstan to Celtic northern Europe. Although it is a survey, we consider the art and architecture in greater depth and breadth than in the freshman art history survey; we also look at art history’s darker side – thefts, forgeries, and the law.