Course Code: Art History 450
Course Name: Advanced Seminar in the History of Art & Architecture – Seeing Venice in the Modern Age
Professor: Sandra Paikowsky
Credits: 3
Semester: Winter 2008
Course Description: The primary purpose of this course is to involve students in in-depth research and discussion within the context of a seminar. As part of the exploring the context of your research, we will look at images of Venice from the late nineteenth to the early decades of the twentieth century. Paintings, prints and photographs by American, British, French and Canadian artists will be studied in light of how the most depicted city in the world was represented at the beginnings of modernity. The visual presentation of Venice by foreign artists will also be a basis for comparison with the imaging of Venice by Italians.
Research Description: Each student will look at one foreign artist who worked in Venice at some point during the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. The research will focus on at least one of the artist’s images of Venice and will form the foundation for a wider study that will based on an appropriate Venetian side or theme. The research project will also include discussion of (in no particular order): 1) other images of Venice by the artist; 2) other works by that artist of non-Venetian work; 3) comparison to other depictions of the site or theme by other “foreign” artists, if possible by Venetian artists; and 4) relation to the general attitudes of representing Venice during this period. Each research topic will present its own particular issues and approaches, and so that the amount of discussion on these 4 subtopics will vary in length according to the particular artist and image selected. Other subtopics will become obvious as you work on your project.
Artist Comments: ARTH 450 was another incredible art and art history experience for me. By luck of the draw, I selected Maurice Prendergast. I had no idea how perfect this was going to be for me. Similar to myself, Prendergast, although intensely interested in art, started late as a professional artist. Like ARTH 366 I decided to paint something as part my research, education, and artistic growth. I was completely unfamiliar with Prendergast, his work and his primary medium, watercolour. What an amazing opportunity!