CHH008 History of Art 5: Italian and Northern Renaissance Art 1280-1520

Between the church-dominated Middle Ages and our largely secular and scientific Modern Age lies the Renaissance. The artistic legacy of this 14–16th century ‘rebirth’ of Classical learning and arts in Italy and the rest of Europe is arguably as influential as ancient Greek Classicism itself. In this course we look at Renaissance art’s progression from Byzantine and Gothic other-worldliness to the inspired, albeit sometimes skewed, naturalism of masters such as Van Eyck, Bosch, Leonardo, Dürer and Michelangelo – often still through religious commissions but increasingly taking a humanist perspective.

Topic discussions are supported by slides and online recordings.