Byzantine Art, offered during Block 7, will focus on the art and architecture of Constantinople/Istanbul, capital of the eastern Roman empire or Byzantium.  Monuments from this tradition include the “Great Church” or Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the mosaics of Ravenna, Venice and Sicily as well as orthodox Christian (Greek, Russian, etc.) icon painting.   We will also study Byzantine influences in medieval Serbia and Russia as well as the philosophy and theology of images in eastern Christianity.

During the block there is a tentative field trip to New York to see the show called “Byzantium Faith and Power”, a major exhibition of late Byzantine art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Other events connected with the class include a demonstration by an icon painter, a talk by an expert on Constantinople and a celebration of Orthodox Christian Easter on April 11. 

The prerequisite is a previous art history course or consent of instructor.   Students with a particular interest in the subject matter (e.g. Russian and Eurasian Studies majors) who have not had the prerequisites are encouraged to take the course.

Professor Ruth Kolarik:  Packard 129, office phone: CC Extension 6372 home: 633-3908  

Requirements:  The course will be taught as a seminar with student-led discussions of the readings on a daily basis. Students will keep a journal of the class. Assignments include a short essay and an in-depth research project.

All course requirements must be completed in order to pass the course. Grades will be calculated approximately as follows: class participation 25%, short essay 25% research project 50%

Books available at the Bookstore:

John Lowden, Early Christian and Byzantine Art
Thomas Mathews, Byzantium
Robert Ousterhout, The Art of the Kariye Camii
Linda Safran, ed. Heaven on Earth: Art and the Church in Byzantium

Other readings will be distributed as handouts.

Readings must be completed before the class period for which they are assigned.