The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of Chinese civilization, outlining the archaeological and artistic development from the Neolithic period (V century BC) to the contemporary period (XXI century). The course aims to introduce the basic notions of the artistic and cultural development of Chinese art, in order to provide students with the skills needed to analyze a work of art within its cultural context.

The main Neolithic cultures and the production of ceramics and jade; the Bronze Age: the Erlitou culture and the Shang and Zhou Dynasties; the birth of the Chinese Empire: Qin and Han Dynasties; the Silk Road; the Northern and Southern Dynasties: the birth of painting and calligraphy; the Buddhist art; Sui and Tang: cosmopolitanism and exoticism; the five Dynasties and the Liao: the masters of landscape painting; Song Dynasty: painting and large ceramic production; Yuan Dynasty: the painting and the blue and white porcelain; the Ming Dynasty painting, gardens and architecture; porcelain and foreign trade; the Qing Dynasty: the enlightened emperors; the multi-color and monochrome porcelain; painting between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; Giuseppe Castiglione; modern and contemporary art: an overview.

The various artistic trends will be analyzed within the historical and cultural context in which they were produced, and the iconographic study of works from each period will be made through the reading of images provided. The images will show examples of Chinese art production: bronzes, jade, silk, porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, etc. and they will be provided to students.

Lessons (II semester):
- Monday 17: 00-19: 00
- Tuesday 9: 00-12: 00

Students are requested to learn the principal characteristics and the different stages of Chinese art. This course seeks to develop specialized vocabulary and skills to read the iconography of a work of art, and to explain the meaning and the specific cultural context in which it was produced.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

During the lectures, images and videos in support of the lessons will be projected. Some detailed study on various topics will be recommended. The professor will also advise visits to museums and exhibitions in reference to the content of the lessons.

Course books

- L. Caterina, Yishu. Manuale di storia dell'arte cinese, Aracne Editrice, Roma, 2006 (tutto).

- Appunti del corso.

- Immagini e materiale video utilizzati e forniti durante le lezioni.

- Approfondimenti forniti dalla docente durante le lezioni.