ARH 1011
Survey of Art History
Fall 2011
Prof. Lisa Rafanelli (Brownson 214); 914 323-7182; E-mail: rafanellil@mville.edu
SI: Amy Novak (novaka@mville.edu). Hours to be arranged.
Lectures: Tuesday and Friday, 12:10-1:25 Brownson 109
Discussion Sections: Wednesday 8:45-9:35; 9:45-10:35 Brownson 205
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce students to the great traditions in art, as well
as to the discipline of Art History. The fall semester will focus primarily on the art of the Western
tradition, from the ancient Near East to the dawn of the Renaissance in Europe. The spring semester,
which covers the Baroque period through the modern era, also includes significant study of the art of
Africa.
Course Learning Objectives:
The aims of this course are multiple. By the end of the semester, you should be able to:
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Use basic art historical terminology correctly.
Identify major monuments, artists, time periods and characteristics of the artistic production of
Prehistoric Europe, the Ancient Near East, Egypt, Ancient Greece, Rome, the Early Christian
and Byzantine Periods, Medieval Europe, and Italy and Northern Europe during the
Renaissance.
Apply knowledge of the above art historical periods and styles to identify a previously
unknown work of art.
Compare/contrast monuments/works of art in a way that articulates their similarities and
differences in terms of subject, style, context, function and patronage.
Articulate the relationship between the monuments and objects produced in a particular culture
and the religious, political, social and economic circumstances of their production.
As part of a small group, develop and deliver a brief oral presentation using appropriate
projection technology.
Discussion Groups: Beginning in the second week of class, students will also meet in a discussion
group one time per week for 45 minutes with the professor. These smaller groups provide the
opportunity to discuss the lectures and readings, to receive additional practice in visual analysis, and to
prepare for exams and papers. These groups are an integral part of this four-credit course, and
students are required to attend weekly. Attendance will be taken.
Reading: The required text for this course is Marilyn Stokstad’s Art History (Fourth Edition). If you
have an earlier used edition, there should be no problem. It is expected that you will have read the
assigned pages (noted on the syllabus) before class. You are also strongly urged to take careful notes
during class, since lectures supplement, rather than duplicate, material in the text. You do not need to
bring the book to class.
Required Images: The works of art for which you will be held responsible on quizzes and exams are
located in folders in this course's area of ArtStor. You can access these images by going to the
Manhattanville Library web portal, selecting Databases, and then ArtStor. If you need help accessing
these materials, a librarian will be happy to assist you. Please note: The information (date, period,
etc.) supplied by Artstor can be inaccurate. Please rely on your textbook and class notes for accurate
dating.
Study Tips: If this is your first Art History course, you may be unsure about how to prepare for
quizzes and exams. Most students in Art History courses find it useful to make flashcards for the
required images. Print out the images from Artstor, and on the back, write all of the required
information, including significance. Please feel free to email us with questions as you prepare for the
exams. You will also find S.I. sessions to be extremely useful.
Course Requirements: A student’s final grade will be determined using the following scale:
10% First Quiz (Administered in Discussion Group)
30% Midterm
10% Second Quiz (Group Presentations in Discussion Group)
35% Final Exam
15% Weekly Attendance and Participation.
Extra Credit: Two opportunities to earn extra credit are available.
1)
Berger Lecture: Students may attend the annual Arthur M. Berger lecture, given on
10/26/11, and write a 1-2 page summary that must be submitted in class on Friday
10/28/11. Please make sure you sign the attendance sheet at the lecture.
2)
MMA: Students may visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and write a
one page essay about a work of art or a collection. Details TBA. This assignment
will be accepted at any time up to the end of the semester. Proof of museum
admission (dated receipt) must be included with essay.
Classroom Policies:
1.
Class attendance is mandatory; attendance will be taken at both lecture and
discussion groups. Unexcused absences will be factored into your final grade.
2.
Absence from an exam will be excused only for reasons of illness or emergency,
and only if accompanied by a letter from the Office of Academic Advising. If
the absence is excused, no grade will be recorded. If absence is unexcused, a
failing grade will be recorded. No make-ups will be given in either case.
3.
It is expected that while in class you will conduct yourself in accordance with
generally observed rules of decorum and civility. Please do not speak while
professors are lecturing unless you are asking or answering a question. Please
silence cell phones and refrain from texting for the duration of class. You
may use a laptop in class for note taking only.
4.
If you require special accommodations for exam taking (such as extended time),
it is your responsibility to inform the professors of your needs. It is also your
5.
responsibility to make arrangements with ARC and/or the HELP center, and to
submit the proper paperwork that will allow for arrangements to be made.
Requests for special accommodations made less than one week before an exam
cannot be granted. Requests for special accommodations not made through
official channels will not be granted.
You are expected to be aware of, and to conduct yourselves in accordance with
the rules regarding academic integrity, in particular the prohibitions against
plagiarism and cheating, found in the Manhattanville College Code of Conduct.
All cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of
Academic Advising. If confirmed, academic dishonesty in this course will
result in a failing grade for the course. Additional sanctions may also be
imposed by the Dean of Academic Advising.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF LECTURES: TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
Tuesday
8/30
Introduction to the History of Art
Reading: Stokstad, Intro and Starter Kit
9/6
Art of the Ancient Near East
Reading: Stokstad Ch. 2
9/13
Ancient Egypt, II
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 3
9/20
Greek Art, I
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 5
9/27
Etruscan Art, Art of the Roman Republic
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 6
10/4
Roman Art, II
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 6
Wednesday Discussion Group
Topic/Reading
8/31
No Discussion Group meetings
for the first week
9/7
Note-taking; understanding the
difference between formal
analysis and contextual analysis
9/14
Understanding an object’s
function
Friday
9/2
Prehistoric Art
Reading: Stokstad Ch. 1
9/9
Ancient Egypt, I
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 3
9/16
Aegean Art
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 4
9/23
Greek Art, II
9/21
First Quiz
(Covers Prehistoric – Aegean Art)
Format: IDs, Unknown
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 5
9/28
Comparing and Contrasting
works of art
10/5
Reading Pliny
9/30
Roman Art, I
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 6
10/7
Early Christian Art
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 7 (to p.
233)
10/11
Byzantine Art
10/12
Review for Midterm
10/14
Review for Midterm
10/19
NO DISCUSSION GROUP

slamic Art
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 7
10/18
IN-CLASS MIDTERM
(Covers Egyptian – Byzantine)
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 8
Format: IDs, Compare and Contrast Essay,
Unknown
10/25
10/26
The Middle Ages: Carolingian and
Review of Midterm results
Ottonian
10/28
Romanesque Art and
Architecture
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 14
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 15
11/1
Gothic Art and Architecture, I
11/2
Discussion of Group Presentation
assignment (aka Quiz II)
*Berger Lecture Essays
Due
11/4
Gothic Art and Architecture,
II
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 16
11/8
The Early Renaissance in Northern
Europe, I
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 17 (pp. 551-559)
and Ch. 18
11/15
The Early Renaissance in Italy, I
(compare and contrast one
required image with another we
have not studied).
11/9
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
(Covers: Islamic through
Gothic)
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 16
11/11
The Early Renaissance in
Northern Europe, II
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 18
11/16
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
(if needed)
11/18
The Early Renaissance in
Italy, II
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 19
11/22
The High Renaissance in Italy, I
Alternative:
Women Artists from Antiquity to
the Renaissance
11/23
NO CLASS
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 20
Happy Thanksgiving!
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 17 (to 549)
and Ch. 19
11/25
NO CLASS
Happy Thanksgiving!
11/29
The High Renaissance in Italy, II
11/20
Optional discussion group:
Preparing for the final
12/2
The High Renaissance in
Italy, III
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 20
12/6
12/7
The High Renaissance in Northern Europe
NO DISCUSSION GROUP
Reading: Stokstad, Ch. 21
*Last chance to submit MMA Extra
Credit
Reading: Stokstad,Ch.20
12/9
Review and Preparation for
the Final Exam
(Covers Islamic-High
Renaissance in the North)
FINAL EXAM TO BE SCHEDULED DURING FINALS WEEK 12/12-12/16