The history of art and architecture are essential in the intellectual development and in the practise of architecture. The major aim of the course is to enable the student to make judgment, have an historical and bibliographic instruments to be able to analyse and understand movements, effects and protagonists (architects, artists, patrons, benefits, etc) of this fundamental period (first Dublin Descriptor). To achieve this aim it’s necessary to always use multiple approaches and different methods of analysis observing the Unity of History (second Dublin Descriptor).
Undergraduate shall be able to: use the acquired knowledge to make personal and mature judgements (third Dublin Descriptor); use the appropriate technical language (fourth Dublin Descriptor); establish logical connections between topics; read the complexity of architecture (fifth Dublin Descriptor).

The course will follow a didactic itinerary that allows the student to analyse the most significant moments in the history of Western architecture from the Late Middle Ages to the first half of the 20th century. The programme will cover the following topics

1) From Gothic to the Early Renaissance 

2) Leon Battista Alberti and the spread of the Renaissance language 

3) The Ducal Palace of Urbino (visit)

4) Donato Bramante and architectural classicism in the first half of the 16th century

5) Michelangelo and the second half of the 16th century in Lazio and Tuscany

6) The second half of the 16th century in Northern Italy (Giulio Romano, Sansovino, Palladio)

7) Rome in the first half of the seventeenth century: the Baroque

8) From the spread of Baroque to Rococo

9) From the rediscovery of the antique to historicist eclecticism

10) The new forms. From Liberty to Rationalism

Oral examination, if necessary elementary sketch exemplifications, descriptions of photos or drawings of buildings, details, architectural sculptures, etc. The first set of questions tends to evaluate the basic knowledge of the program (first Dublin Descriptor) and basic ability to establish logical connections between topics (second Dublin Descriptor). The second set of questions checks strictly: the criticism (third Dublin Descriptor); the correct use of the appropriate language (fourth Dublin Descriptor); the ability to establish logical connections between topics and of reading the complexity of architecture (fifth Dublin Descriptor).

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 course there will be visits and monuments of Urbino useful for verifying the knowledge acquired.

Teaching

Classroom lessons will be held with the help of Power Point images, available, along with other supporting material, on the platform: moodle: www.blended.uniurb.it.

Attendance

In order to pass the exam, it is compulsory for each student to write a thesis (20 pages maximum; around 13,000-15,000 characters and with footnotes) concerning the historical-critical analysis of an architecture, the choice of which will be agreed upon with the teacher. The work must be submitted in pdf format at least 15 days before the exam.

Course books

The exam bibliography will indicate the parts of the manual to be studied (with reference to the topics covered in class) and will contain the complete list of in-depth readings.

As a reference manual for the entire course, we recommend the study of: G. Cricco, F. Di Teodoro, Itinerario nell'arte, Yellow Version, Zanichelli, Bologna, 3rd edition (with reference to the chapters that deal with the history of architecture from the early 15th century to the first decade of the 20th century). Other useful manuals for further study are: N. Pevsner, Storia dell'architettura europea, Rome-Bari, Laterza, 1966 or following; A. Bruschi, G. Miarelli Mariani, Lineamenti di Storia dell'architettura, Sovera, Rome, VIII edition 2006; and A. Muntoni, Lineamenti di Storia dell'architettura contemporanea, Rome-Bari, Laterza 2009.

The student is also invited to consult texts and repertoires equipped with photographs, graphic diagrams and didactic equipment; in particular, the series "Biblioteca di Storia dell'arte", "Saggi", and "Storia dell'arte italiana" (Einaudi), "Storia dell'arte in Italia" (UTET) and, above all, "Storia dell'architettura” (Electa”, curated by PL Nervi). Useful consultation tools can also be: Dizionario Enciclopedico di Architettura e di Urbanistica, edited by P. Portoghesi, Rome, Ist. Ed. Romano, 1969, 9 vols .; N. Pevsner, H. Honor, J. Fleming, Dizionario dell'architettura, Turin, Einaudi, 1981; La nomenclatura dell'architettura, Rosemberg and Sellier, 1993.

Assessment

Oral examination with discussion of images. The questions are designed to test both the student's learning of the contents and his or her ability to rework and argue. 

Excellent grades will be awarded for: the student's possession of good critical and in-depth study skills; the ability to link together the main themes addressed in the course; the use of appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.

The following will result in fair grades: the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relative critical capacity and the ability to link the themes dealt with: the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient assessments will result in: the student's attainment of a minimal knowledge of the topics dealt with, despite the presence of some formative gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

Negative assessments will result in negative assessments: difficulty in the student's orientation in relation to the themes dealt with in the examination texts; gaps in training; use of inappropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Self-study

Attendance

In order to pass the exam, it is compulsory for each student to write a thesis (20 pages maximum; around 13,000-15,000 characters and with footnotes) concerning the historical-critical analysis of an architecture, the choice of which will be agreed upon with the teacher. The work must be submitted in pdf format at least 15 days before the exam.

Course books

The exam bibliography will indicate the parts of the manual to be studied (with reference to the topics covered in class) and will contain the complete list of in-depth readings.

As a reference manual for the entire course, we recommend the study of: G. Cricco, F. Di Teodoro, Itinerario nell'arte, Yellow Version, Zanichelli, Bologna, 3rd edition (with reference to the chapters that deal with the history of architecture from the early 15th century to the first decade of the 20th century). Other useful manuals for further study are: N. Pevsner, Storia dell'architettura europea, Rome-Bari, Laterza, 1966 or following; A. Bruschi, G. Miarelli Mariani, Lineamenti di Storia dell'architettura, Sovera, Rome, VIII edition 2006; and A. Muntoni, Lineamenti di Storia dell'architettura contemporanea, Rome-Bari, Laterza 2009.

The student is also invited to consult texts and repertoires equipped with photographs, graphic diagrams and didactic equipment; in particular, the series "Biblioteca di Storia dell'arte", "Saggi", and "Storia dell'arte italiana" (Einaudi), "Storia dell'arte in Italia" (UTET) and, above all, "Storia dell'architettura” (Electa”, curated by PL Nervi). Useful consultation tools can also be: Dizionario Enciclopedico di Architettura e di Urbanistica, edited by P. Portoghesi, Rome, Ist. Ed. Romano, 1969, 9 vols .; N. Pevsner, H. Honor, J. Fleming, Dizionario dell'architettura, Turin, Einaudi, 1981; La nomenclatura dell'architettura, Rosemberg and Sellier, 1993.

Students who do not attend are also required to study two texts chosen from different periods of the history of architecture: (one relating to modern architecture, one to contemporary architecture)

1. Architecture of the modern age

Erik Forssman, Doric, Dorico, ionico, corinzio nell’architettura del Rinascimento, Rome-Bari, Laterza 1973 (1st ed.)

Rudolf Wittkower, Principi architettonici nell'età dell'Umanesimo, Torino, Einaudi, 2007

Bertrand Jestaz, Il Rinascimento dell'architettura da Brunelleschi a Palladio, Milan, Electa-Gallimard, 1995

Wolfgang Lotz, Architettura in Italia 1500-1600, ed. it., edited by D. Howard, Milan, RCS 1997 (1st ed.)

Rudolf Wittkower, Arte e architettura in Italia 1600-1750, Torino, Einaudi, 1972 or other editions (only the chapters on architecture)

2. Contemporary architecture

Kenneth Frampton, Tettonica e architettura. Poetica della forma architettonica nel XIX e XX secolo, Geneva-Milan, Skira, 1999

Paolo Portoghesi, Dopo l'architettura moderna, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1980

Bruno Zevi, Storia dell'architettura moderna, Turin, Einaudi, 1950

Joseph Maria Montaner, Dopo il movimento moderno: l'architettura della seconda metà del Novecento, Roma-Bari, Laterza

Assessment

Oral examination with discussion of images. The questions are designed to test both the student's learning of the contents and his or her ability to rework and argue. 

Excellent grades will be awarded for: the student's possession of good critical and in-depth study skills; the ability to link together the main themes addressed in the course; the use of appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.

The following will result in fair grades: the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relative critical capacity and the ability to link the themes dealt with: the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient assessments will result in: the student's attainment of a minimal knowledge of the topics dealt with, despite the presence of some formative gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

Negative assessments will result in negative assessments: difficulty in the student's orientation in relation to the themes dealt with in the examination texts; gaps in training; use of inappropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The History of Modern Art course is recommended.