ARHT245

(Formerly ARHT240) You know the names -- Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso, Pollock -- but not why they matter. What makes them great? This class introduces you to the history of art in Western Civilization, but it is more than a basic survey. Rather than skim the surface of culture, we delve deeply into what makes a great work of art, and more so, what makes a great work of art into a “masterpiece.” Using a case study approach we analyze 14 of the “greatest hits” of European art history, objects, artists and moments that reverberate through time, up to our present moment. Each case study provides a lens into the intellectual, political, social context in which it was made, bringing the historical period into full color. We will study major works from Classical Greece to the Twentieth Century. There are two mandatory museum visits for this class - Lab Fee.