ARTH 332 – Michelangelo: Painter, Sculptor, Architect

Course description

This course explores the life and work of Michelangelo, one of the most revolutionary, respected, and influential Renaissance artists. We focus on four main and interrelated areas, and the dynamic relationships between them: painting, sculpture, architecture, and drawing. Most weeks, we meet once in the classroom, to look, from many points of view, at Michelangelo’s works, working process, interactions with patrons, and his impact on others. Then, we meet on-site, to explore his works in person in museums, churches, piazza, and town halls. Other important components of the course are group discussions of the readings and presentations of student research and creative projects. A day- trip to Rome (Sistine Ceiling and Church of St. Peter’s, Vatican City; Tomb of Julius II, Church of San Pietro in Vincoli; Capitoline Hill), will complete the experience.

Objectives

• to look carefully at Michelangelo’s paintings, sculptures, architecture, and drawings;
• to establish a vocabulary so we can express what we see;
• to investigate the materials and techniques explored by Michelangelo;
• to investigate the function, message, context, and ideas behind the works;
• to explore the role of patrons, who commissioned most of Michelangelo’s works;
• to understand how these works reflected Michelangelo’s society;
• to consider the reception of Michelangelo’s works.

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