ARTH 056. From Craftsman to Virtuoso: Artistic Practice, Theory, and Knowledge in Europe 15th-18th Centuries

This course examines the intersections of artistic practice, theory, and knowledge in early modern Europe from the fifteenth through early eighteenth centuries. Following the development of Humanism in fourteenth-century Italy, artists began to question their status as craftsmen and sought to redefine themselves as intellectuals. This process can be traced in visual imagery and theory in various centers and contexts in Renaissance and Baroque Europe. In this class we will explore this trajectory, carefully examining drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other media as evidence of shifting cultural paradigms and new artistic practices. We will also reevaluate concepts such as genius and artisanal craft, explore the phenomenon of artists as collectors, consider the role of patronage, and critically analyze relevant theoretical treatises and biographical accounts written by artists, including Giorgio Vasari and Albrecht Dürer.   
Catalog chapter: Art and Art History: Art History  
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/art


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