107-467 Renaissance and Baroque Rome 1450-1750

Usually 12.5 points of first year art history, see Prerequisites.

This subject considers the city of Rome both from an urbanistic perspective, and in terms of the art and architectural history of its monuments. The subject aims to develop an understanding of the form and history of the Renaissance and Baroque city, not only as the result of social forces and papal patronage, but also as a consciously created aesthetic object, perhaps the finest example of the city as work of art. Close attention will be paid to maps, bird's-eye views, topographical prints, drawings, and vedute (view paintings) as primary documents of the earlier history of the sites. The subject is organised topographically, and each session focuses on a different part of Rome, as well as on the villas and gardens in the region (Bagnaia, Caprarola, Bomarzo, Tivoli, Subiaco, Frascati, Palestrina, Ariccia). Includes visits to most major Roman art museums. The subject concludes with a visit to key art museum in Florence.