ART 3742 - Topics in Renaissance Art
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43199,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
Log in to view more
Instructor
Stephanie Smith
Email: ssmith@ysu.edu
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Italian Renaissance Art (2nd edition) | Laurie Schneider Adams |
Additional required course readings:
Vasari, Giorgio. Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects. Translated by Gaston du C. de Vere. 10 vols. London: Macmillan and Co. and The Medici Society, 1912–1914. Project Gutenberg.
Dr. Nancy Ross and Dr. Evan Freeman, "The life of Christ in medieval and Renaissance art," in Smarthistory, August 8, 2015
Dr. Ariel Fein, "The visual culture of Norman Sicily," in Smarthistory, May 21, 2021
Dr. Holly Flora, "Cimabue, Virgin and Child Enthroned, and Prophets (Santa Trinita Maestà)," in Smarthistory, November 4, 2020
Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris, "Florence in the Early Renaissance," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015
Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank and Dr. Heather Graham, "Alberti’s revolution in painting," in Smarthistory, May 13, 2020
Dr. Lorenza Smith, "Devotional confraternities (scuole) in Renaissance Venice," in Smarthistory, March 23, 2018
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
Log in to view more
Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Adams, chapter 1 Dr. Nancy Ross and Dr. Evan Freeman, "The life of Christ in medieval and Renaissance art," in Smarthistory, August 8, 2015 Dr. Ariel Fein, "The visual culture of Norman Sicily," in Smarthistory, May 21, 2021 Dr. Holly Flora, "Cimabue, Virgin and Child Enthroned, and Prophets (Santa Trinita Maestà)," in Smarthistory, November 4, 2020 Selected biographies from Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects (trans. Gaston du C. de Vere), available through Project Gutenberg. |
Module 1: Introduction & Dugento | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 8/31 | continuation of week 8/24 | continuation of Module 1 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 9/7 | continuation of week 8/24 and 8/31 Adams, chapters 3-4 |
continuation of Module 1 Module 2: Trecento |
Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 9/14 | continuation of week 9/7 | continuation of Module 2 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Altarpiece Comparison Assignment |
| 9/21 | Adams, chapters 5-7 Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris, "Florence in the Early Renaissance," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015 Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank and Dr. Heather Graham, "Alberti’s revolution in painting," in Smarthistory, May 13, 2020 |
Module 3: Quattrocento I | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 9/28 | continuation of week 9/21 | continuation of Module 3 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Reading the Renaissance Through Vasari (Part 1) |
| 10/5 | continuation of week 9/21 and 9/28 | continuation of Module 3 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 10/12 | Module 4: Quattrocento II | Adams, chapters 8, 10-11 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 10/19 | continuation of week 10/12 | continuation of Module 4 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 10/26 | continuation of week 10/12 and 10/26 | continuation of Module 4 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 11/2 | Adams, chapter 9 & 12 Dr. Lorenza Smith, "Devotional confraternities (scuole) in Renaissance Venice," in Smarthistory, March 23, 2018 |
Module 5: Quattrocento III | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 11/9 | continuation of week 11/2 | continuation of Module 5 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Comparing Perspectives in the Quattrocento |
| 11/16 | Module 6: Cinquecento | Adams, chapters 14-15 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 11/23 | Module 7: Cinquecento II | Adams, chapters 16-17 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 11/30 | continuation of week 11/23 | continuation of Module 7 | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Reading the Renaissance Through Vasari (Part 2) |
| 12/7 | There is no final exam for this course. |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.