The course aims to provide students with methodological tools and basic notions about materials, techniques and conservation aspects of works of art. At the end of the course, students will have acquired the historical and scientific knowledge relative to the methods of investigation and observation of artworks, useful for gathering and interpreting the data on their technical and material characteristics; they will be able to orient themselves in the bibliographical field and will have assimilated the lexical skills proper to the discipline.
Course Prerequisites
The course does not require any particular prerequisites with regard to its content.
Teaching Methods
The course consists of lectures and includes at least one guided tour to monuments or museum collections, in order to exemplify the topics covered in the lecture and to encourage direct observation of art objects.
Assessment Methods
The examination takes place in oral mode; both general and specific questions are asked on the topics covered in class. The evaluation takes into account the student's overall preparation, the ability to organise the knowledge acquired, to focus on specific topics and to master the technical language of the discipline.
Texts
The bibliography for the exam includes two sections of texts: Manuals and Sources. Details on the bibliography will be provided in class and on the KIRO platform. Manuals: Le tecniche artistiche, ed. by C. Maltese, Milano, 1973 (selection of chapters), or S. Rinaldi, Storia tecnica dell’arte. Materiali e metodi della pittura e della scultura, Roma, 2011 (selection of chapters); C.Z. Laskaris, Artes e technes. Introduzione allo studio storico delle tecniche artistiche, Torino, 2023; M.L. Papini, La cornice: procedimenti esecutivi ed evoluzione tipologica, in Preparazione e finitura delle opere pittoriche, ed. by C. Maltese, Milano, 1993, pp. 181-252. Sources: C. Cennini, Il libro dell’arte, ed. by F. Frezzato, Vicenza, 2003 (selection of chapters); G. Vasari, Le vite de’ più eccellenti pittori, scultori e architettori da Cimabue insino a’ tempi nostri, Firenze, 1550 or 1568 (Introduction: Sculpture, Painting: selection of chapters).
Contents
After an introduction to the general principles and methodological aspects of the discipline, the different kinds of sources for the history of artistic techniques will be presented. Description of the training of the artist and the organization of tasks in the medieval workshop will follow; the practice of drawing and the nature and use of colours will be analysed. Afterwards the main painting and sculpture techniques (mural painting, painting on wood, painting on canvas, illumination, mosaic; sculpture in wood, stone, metal, terracotta) will be examined, highlighting the interaction between different crafts and technical skills and combining the data provided by historical and scientific sources.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Attendance to the course is not compulsory, although it is recommended. The exam programme is the same for attending and non-attending students. Bibliographic and teaching materials and image folders relating to the topics covered in the classes are provided via the KIRO platform.
