HAA 0050 Court & Cloister: Introduction to Medieval Art

(offered once a year)

This course explores the art of Western Europe from the conversion of Constantine in the fourth century to the invention of printing in the fifteenth century. With an emphasis on manuscripts, metalwork, sculpture and architecture, we will examine the political, theological, and social changes that informed the production of medieval art. Developments in style and iconography will be considered as reflections of the artists, patrons, and other audiences who lived in this period, and special attention will be paid to the kings, queens, monks, and Crusaders whose ideas and actions shaped the history of the Middle Ages.