Art 383, Medieval Art, Book Review
The paper will consist of a critical book review of around four or five pages The title of the book
to be reviewed must be submitted by the instructor on October 12. You should read your chosen
book carefully, noting the author's arguments, and comparing them to what you find in your texts.
You likely will want to do some supplementary reading to check further on these, and to compare
them to other scholarly opinion. The review should be written in clear English, and must be in
printed format.
The Book Review
A critical book review is an informed critique of a scholarly work. It should take something like
the following form:
1. Bibliographical information about the work: author, title, place and date of publication. This is
given as a heading.
2. A brief statement of the book's purpose or thesis (why it was written). This may be combined
with an introduction to the material dealt with in the book.
3. A summary of the order in which the author presents his or her information.
4. Critical evaluation of the success or failure of the book in meeting its thesis. This may include
any errors in the book you find (including typos), and mention of additional material that the
author failed to include.
5. A final evaluation of the book as a success or failure, including what readership it is suitable
for.
Approved books to be reviewed are the following. If you wish to do another book, talk to the
instructor.
I Early Christian Art
Grabar, A., Early Christian Art N7832 G6613
Jensen, R., Understanding early Christian art (N7832 .J46 2000)
Kitzinger, E., Byzantine Art in the Making N6350 K58
Spier, R., Picturing the Bible: the Earliest Christian Art (N7832 .P53 2007)
Weitzmann, K., Illustrations in Roll and Codex ND2900 W4
II. Byzantine Art to 1204.
Cormack, R., Writing in Gold N6250 C66
Cutler, A., The Hand of the Master: Craftmanship, Ivory and Society in Byzantium (NK5872
C88)
Krautheimer, R., Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture NA360 K7
Weitzmann, K., The Icon N8187 W44
Wessel, K., Byzantine Enamels NK5013 W413
III. Byzantinizing Mosaics in Italy
Borsook, E., The Royal Programmes of Norman Sicily (1130-1187) (NA3792 N67 B67)
Demus, O., The Mosaic Decoration of San Marco, Venice (NA3788 D45)--make sure you get
the one volume abridgement!
Tronzo, W., The Cultures of his Kingdom: Roger II and the Cappella Palatina in Palermo
(NA5621 P3 T76 1997)
IV. Early Medieval Architecture
Salley, R., Early Medieval Architecture (NA350 S78 1999)
VI. Gothic Architecture
Bony, J., The English Decorated Style: Gothic Architecture Transformed, 1250-1350
B66
NA963
Bony, J., French Gothic Architecture of the 12th and 13th Centuries NA5543 B66
Branner, R., St. Louis and the Court Style in Gothic Architecture (NA5543 B7)
Coldstream, N., The decorated style : architecture and ornament, 1240-1360 (NA5463 C63 1994)
VII. Romanesque and Gothic Sculpture
Hearn, M.F., Romanesque Sculpture NB175 H39
Katzenellenbogen, A., The Sculptural Program of Chartres Cathedral NA5551 C5 K3
Moskowitz, A., Italian Gothic Sculpture c. 1250-c. 1400 (NB613 M68 2001)
Pope-Hennessy, J., Italian Gothic Sculpture 2 NB611 P62 v. 1
Williamson, P., Gothic Sculpture 1140-1300 (NB180 W55 1995)
VIII. Gothic Iconography
Male, E., Religious Art in France: the Twelfth Century N7949 A1 M3413
Male, E., Religious Art in France: the Thirteenth Century N7949 A1 M3513
IX. Manuscript Illumination
Alexander, J.J.G., Medieval Illuminators and their Methods of Work (ND2920 A44)
Cahn, W., Romanesque Bible Illustration ND3356 C33
Calkins, R., Illuminated Books of the Middle Ages ND2920 C28
Dodwell, C., The Pictorial Arts of the West 800-1200 N5970 D64
X. Monumental Painting
Cole, B., Sienese Painting ND621 S6 C65
Demus, O., Romanesque Mural Painting (ND2580 .D413 1970b)
Smart, A., The Dawn of Italian Painting, 1250-1400 ND613 S6
XI. Gothic Stained Glass
Grodecki, L., and Brisac, Gothic Stained Glass NK5349 A1 G7613
Williams, J.W., Bread, Wine and Money: The Windows of the Trades at Chartres Cathedral
(NK5349 C5 W55)
F. Other Arts
Gibbs-Smith, C.H., The Bayeaux Tapestry NK3049 B3 G52
Lasko, P., Ars Sacra 800-1200 ed. 2 N6245 L37
Lewis, S., The rhetoric of power in the Bayeux tapestry (NK3049 B3 L48 1999)