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Art
History 505 |
| The Periclean building
program in Athens of the fifth century B.C. arguably produced some of the
most perfect buildings and sculptures the world has known. The Parthenon,
the Erechtheion, the monumental gateway to the Acropolis, and a host of
other buildings were inspirations to its own generation, and models for
future visitors and heirs to the Classical tradition.
This undergraduate seminar will look at the building program from a variety of viewpoints. We will study the buildings themselves, their histories, cults, architectural peculiarities, and sculptural programs. We will consider the process of undertaking such a building program, the organization of labor, funding, and its political, social and artistic ramifications. We will study the predecessors of the building program, and the specific historical climate that led to its creation. We will consider contemporary reactions to the program, which were not all positive: politicians objected to the expense, and Pheidias, the chief architect and designer, was put on trial. We will also consider modern reactions to the program and the buildings themselves, for instance the ongoing dispute between Greece and Great Britain over the “Elgin Marbles,” the sculptures taken from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century. Students will prepare and present two reports: a more concrete one on a particular building or monument, so that the class is acquainted with the major works of the program; and a second report dealing with more general issues such as architectural practice, patronage, and reception. Basic knowledge of Greek art (e.g. Art History 201, 300) is assumed. There are enormous numbers of books and articles written on the subject of the building program. A good place to start is Jeffrey Hurwit, The Athenian Acropolis: History, Mythology, and Archaeology from the Neolithic Era to the Present (Cambridge UP, 1999) P: Art History majors receive first priority; contact the Department for permission to enroll. |