Medieval Art: Catacombs to Cathedrals

Catalog description

This introduction to medieval art and architecture in Europe and the Middle East, from its Roman, Jewish, Early Christian, and Islamic sources through the Gothic period, explores continuity and change in art and its relationship to society and culture. We will consider the physical and sensory original environments of the artworks, including sound, smell, and touch. Other topics include the relationship of belief and ritual to religious imagery and architecture, patterns in medieval design, and the impact of imperial patronage on art. The class will use material from the Fairfield University Art Museum’s loan collection from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cloisters, and may include a trip to world-class museums in our region.