Art History Courses

VPAA41Y Introduction to Art*
VPAA43S Medieval Art
VPAA44F Renaissance and Baroque Art
VPAB41Y The Human Figure in Greek Art (8th-4th Centuries B.C.)
VPAB44F Baroque Painting in the Netherlands
VPAB46S Impressionism
VPAB48Y Art in North American Cultures
VPAB50Y The Art of Southeast Asia
VPAC42F Gothic Architecture
VPAC44S Art Around 1900
- VPAC45F Seminar in Twentieth-Century Art
VPAD41F/S, VPAD42Y Supervised Reading in Art History
VPAD41F/S, VPAD42Y Supervised Reading in Art History
Art History Courses Not Offered in 1997/98
VPAA42F/S Ancient Art and Architecture (ca. 900 B.C. - 300 A.D.)
VPAB42F/S Carolingian and Romanesque Art and Architecture
VPAB43F/S The Arts in Northern Europe ca. 1400-1500
VPAB45F/S Art in the Age of the French Revolution
VPAB47Y Twentieth Century Art
VPAB49Y Women and Visual Art
VPAC41F/S Wall Painting in Ancient Egypt and The Bronze Age Aegean
VPAC43F/S Frans Hals, Rembrandt, and Vermeer

Telephone ID #: 40714163
An introduction to the basic concepts and methods used in the study of art at the College.
The course emphasizes the cultural, economic, social and political factors affecting the making of art, as well as changing interpretations and uses. The course is recommended to all students.
* Writing development course
Exclusions: FAH100, (FARA01Y)
Session: Winter Day
T.B.A.
Offered: 1998/99 and 1999/2000

VPAA43S Medieval Art

Telephone ID #: 40714353
A survey of European architecture, sculpture, painting, illumination, and minor arts from the late Roman Empire to the end of the Middle Ages.
The course examines the origins of European artistic traditions in the early Christian, Mediterranean world; how these traditions were influenced by classical, Byzantine, Moslem and pagan forms; how they developed in an entirely new form of artistic expression in the high Middle Ages; and how they led on to the Renaissance. Texts will include E. Kitzinger, Early Medieval Art; R. Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture; O. von Simson, The Gothic Cathedral, and others.
Exclusion: FAH261, (FARA11F/S)
Session: Winter Day
M. Gervers

VPAA44F Renaissance and Baroque Art

Telephone ID #: 40714433
A survey of architecture, painting and sculpture from 1400 to 1750.
The course will present important monuments, primarily from Italy and the Netherlands, including works by such artists as Jan van Eyck, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Bernini. Text: Frederick Hartt, Art: A History of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Vol. II, 1989 edition.
Exclusion: (FARA12F/S) FAH279
Session: Winter Day
R. Siebelhoff
Offered: 1998/99

VPAB41Y The Human Figure in Greek Art (8th-4th Centuries B.C.)

Telephone ID #: 40724163
This course considers representation of men and women, shown singly and in interactive scenes in sculpture and vase painting, two of the richest media in Greek art.
Study of these often beautiful portrayals of people in action can reveal narratives of myth and legend, and reflections of everyday life in Greece. If we meet the challenge of deciphering their intriguing pictorial language, they also reveal social values such as the perception of gender, and can allow us to reconstruct various aspects of ancient society for which information may be missing in the literature.
Exclusion: FARB08Y
Prerequisite or Co-requisite: Any course in art history or VPAA61
Session: Winter Day
M.C. Shaw

VPAB44F Baroque Painting in the Netherlands

Telephone ID #: 40724433
A study of painting and drawing in the Dutch Republic in the so-called Golden Age from 1600 - 1675.
The subject includes portraiture, landscape and still life. Work done in these categories forms the basis of a great deal of later Western painting. The approach to the material will be problem oriented, rather than chronological. VPAC43 is a continuation of this course. Text: Rosenberg, Slive and Ter Kuile, Dutch Art and Architecture 1600-1800, paperback edition in the Pelican History of Art series.
Exclusion: FAH308, FARB29Y, FARB29F/S
Session: Winter Day
R. Siebelhoff

VPAB46S Impressionism

Telephone ID #: 40724653
A study of Impressionism as a turning point in Western art.
The rapidly expanding city of Paris, with its great boulevards and arteries, was a major meeting place of the world in the second half of the nineteenth century. Using the economic and artistic resources of this international centre, the Impressionist, however, turned primarily to landscape as a source of inspiration. The members of the group, in particular Manet, Pissarro, Morisot, Renoir and Monet, will be discussed in detail. Text: Robert L. Herbert, Impressionism: Art, Leisure and Parisian Society, Yale 1988 (soft cover).
Exclusion: FAH378, (FARB43F/S)
Session: Winter Day
R. Siebelhoff

VPAB48Y Art in North American Cultures

Telephone ID #: 40724863
Uses and characteristics of art within the tremendously varied contexts of first nations, colonial and post-colonial cultures in North America.
This investigation explores selected cultural "moments' from the last three hundred years.
Recommended: Courses in Canadian, Mexican and/or U.S. history useful but not required.
Session: Winter Evening
T.B.A.
Not Offered: 1998/99
Offered: 1999/2000

VPAB50Y The Art of Southeast Asia

Telephone ID #: 40725063
Art of the Southeast Asian peninsula including Cambodia and Thailand as well as Java and Bali in Indonesia.
The course will concentrate on two of the most important groups of monuments in Southeast Asia, namely the Borobudur Temple on Central Java (850 to 1000 AD) and the group of Khmer monuments at Angkor in Cambodia (9th to 13th century). The influence of Buddhism will be a major reference point in the discussion of these monuments. Textbook: Philip Rawson, The Art of Southeast Asia, London: Thames and Hudson. Reprint 1990 soft cover.
Exclusion: FARB69F/S, FARB69Y
Session: Winter Day
R. Siebelhoff
Not offered: 1998/99

VPAC42F Gothic Architecture

Telephone ID #: 40734233
The development of Gothic architecture from the beginning of the twelfth century to the middle of the thirteenth century.
Emphasis will be placed on Notre-Dame in Paris, the cathedrals of Chartres, Reims and Amiens, and a select number of monuments in England. A discussion of the sculptural programmes of the said churches will be included.
One two-hour lecture per week. Course texts include: O. von Simson, The Gothic Cathedral, Princeton 1962.
Exclusion: FAH268, FARC06F/S
Prerequisite: One full-course equivalent in art history at the B-level or permission of instructor
Session: Winter Day
L. Varga-Gervers

VPAC44S Art Around 1900

Telephone ID #: 40734453
An investigation of cultural exchanges at the turn of the century among such cities as New York, Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Vienna and Paris.
The course focuses on the innovations of leading "opinion makers" as well as on the design of furniture, books, art glass, jewellery and fashion, and other luxury products of the period.
Exclusion: FARC14F/S
Prerequisite: One full-course equivalent at the B-level or permission of the instructor.
Session: Winter Day
R. Siebelhoff
Not offered: 1998/99

VPAC45F Seminar in Twentieth-Century Art

Telephone ID #: 40734533
Special topics in twentieth-century painting and sculpture. The subject will change from time to time. After introductory sessions outlining the subject and ways of getting information about it, seminar members will research and present topics of their choice.
Exclusion: FARC18F/S
Prerequisite: One full-course equivalent in modern art history at the B-level or permission of the instructor.
Session: Winter Day
T.B.A.
Not Offered: 1998/99
Offered: 1999/2000

VPAD41,VPAD42F/S, Y Supervised Reading in Art History

A course offering the opportunity for advanced investigation of an area of interest; for students who are nearing completion of art history programmes and who have already acquired research skills sufficient for independent work. Students must locate a willing supervisor, and topics must be identified and approved, by the end of the previous term. A reading knowledge of a second language is recommended.
Exclusion: (FARD02-FARD08F/S) (FARD09Y)
Prerequisite: One C-level full-course equivalent in art history.
Students are advised that they must obtain consent from the supervising instructor before registering for these courses.
Session: Winter Day
Members of Faculty