• International Programs Office
• Courses Abroad
• Italy

Italy

Program Description

This course is designed as an introduction to the life and work of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). We will investigate his painting, sculpture and architecture, while considering its context within the major urban cultural centers in which he worked: Florence and Rome.  The course will proceed chronologically, but will vary from week to week as to relevant themes and methodological approaches to the career of arguably the most influential of all Renaissance artists.

Among those topics to be examined during the course are: development and dissolution of a classical vocabulary; relationships between style and technique; art, biography and self promotion; the relationship between Christianity and sexuality for Michelangelo and the Cinquecento; patronage and context in Florence and Rome; the development of classical form; meaning and controversy in the cleaned Sistine Chapel Ceiling.

Almost every work of art (Painting, sculpture, and architecture) produced by Michelangelo can be seen by visiting Florence, Siena, and Rome. In addition, the crucial visual and keys to understanding Michelangelo’s art and the tradition that it evolves from also can only be understood on site. On the semester syllabus, the in-country site visits are indicated and correlated to the weekly course themes/assignments. 

Click here for Course Syllabus

Course Outcomes

Students in this course should have a good understanding of the relationship between the cultural, political and artistic context that Michelangelo was a part of and how this affected his art. Changing geographic locations and differences in patronage also should be understood throughout this course. In addition, how Michelangelo’s visual expression is related to his poetry should be clear.  The evolution of his style from about 1480 until his death is 1564 is another course outcome. Finally, the role that Vasari’s writing has in establishing Michelangelo’s reputation, should be understood. 

Faculty Leader

Professor Eric Frank, Chair of Art History and Visual Arts Department, will lead the Michelangelo: Art and Biography program. An expert in the art and architecture of the Italian Renaissance and he has been professionally engaged with this subject matter as a scholar and as a teacher for 30 years. Professor Frank was a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome, and lived in Italy (split evenly between Florence and Rome) for 10 years. Prior to  coming to Occidental, he taught on-site in Florence, Rome and elsewhere in Italy and was art-historian in residence at the Syracuse University Florence center for the academic year 1994-5, where he taught a Michelangelo Biography course using the same sites that he will engage in this course.

Itinerary

For a detailed itinerary click on the following link: Itinerary January 2014

Participants

15-18 students, 1 faculty instructor (Professor Frank, Art History and Visual Arts), and support services from IES.

IES-Abroad, is a not-for-profit educational organization with six decades of experience (3 decades with Oxy). IES is one of the oldest, most reputable, high quality organizations in the field. It offers comprehensive custom design services (see their proposal, attached). They are leaders in risk management, legal conduct of study abroad programming and have verified insurance and lawful practices. They provide 24-7 crisis response. IES will handle all the in-country logistics and expenses (lodging, transportation, museum visits, classroom access at their centers), releasing the instructor to focus attention on teaching and the student learning experience.

Requirements

Pre-requisites are ArtH 170 or ArtH 374, there are certain circumstances in which other students could join the class, but they will be considered on a case by case basis.

Students will normally be expected to stand and move around for 5 hours per day including walking up-hill, stair climbing, walking on uneven pavement. Average temperatures in January are 45 - 55 degrees.

Information Session

Come to an info session to talk to the Professor & the IPO staff about the program:

February 12, 2013 at 4:30 pm in Weingart 210

February 19, 2013 at 4:30 pm in Weingart 210

Cost

$6,125*
$4,075* charged to student account, $2,050 additional out-of-pocket expenses.

*Estimated costs are not final and subject to change

Financial Aid:

The total additional cost ($6,125) will be included in Financial Aid calculations for Fall semester 2013. A Financial Aid officer will to determine how your package may be adjusted depending upon your need. Please contact the Financial Aid Office with further questions.

Apply!

The application period for this course is now open.

• Faculty contact-Prof. Frank, emf@@oxy.edu
• International Programs Office contact-Julie Jimenez, jimenezj@oxy.edu