Art History 305 - Early Medieval Art

Designed as an introduction for undergraduate and graduate students, the aim of this course is to provide a comprehensive survey of early medieval art and architecture from the third trough the tenth centuries. This course recognizes the religious, political, and socioeconomic contexts in which medieval art and architecture were produced, and although the material is organized chronologically, lectures will emphasize key themes, including: the origins of Christian images, the changing depictions of Christ, the contested place of images in religious worship, the relationship between text and image, the role of patrons and politics, the liturgical function of the object, and the art of imperial propaganda.