Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

This course will explore those artistic masterpieces that serve as milestones of the Italian Renaissance and also in the development of Western art and architecture. Through an in-depth analysis of these works of art and architecture, as well as the historical context in which they were produced, we shall develop an understanding of how specific works of art, and the unique vision of the geniuses that produced them, transcend simple artistic value and become monuments to human achievement.

Course Objectives:
• To learn to appreciate the rich and influential aspects of Italian Renaissance art and architecture.
• To bring a historical period to life through a “hands on” approach to the monuments and works produced during this specific period known as the Renaissance.
• To develop the fundamental skills of art historical analysis that include formal analysis and iconographic interpretation.
• To develop an ability to interact in a personal and intimate manner with works of art and their surroundings

PART 4 – THE UNIVERSAL GENIUS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI

Lecture 7 – Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper
• Leonardo’s great masterpiece was painted in 1495 on a wall of the refectory of a Dominican convent in Milan, Italy, and is celebrated as the first work of the High Renaissance. Few people realize that Leonardo’s painting of the subject was the culmination of nearly 1000 years of iconographic tradition. Moreover, his depiction of Jesus and twelve (soon to be eleven) of his closest followers sharing their last meal together was one of dozens of Last Supper paintings to adorn refectory – or “dining hall” – walls in Italy.

This lecture will explore the evolution of the subject of the Last Supper in Italian art, as well as explain why Leonardo’s Last Supper is perhaps the most perfect expression of form and content in Renaissance painting.

Lecture 8 – Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa
• When Leonardo began painting the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of the wealthy cloth merchant Francesco del Giocondo, in 1503, little did he know just how much employment he would generate for future art historians.
From theories concerning her enigmatic smile, to the painting being a self-portrait of Leonardo in drag, to her possibly being pregnant, just about everything that could possibly have been written about the Mona Lisa seems to have been written about her (perhaps with the exception of the alien conspiracy theory – stay tuned).

In addition to analyzing the formal aspects of the painting, this lecture will also examine just why the painting is so famous. Lastly, this lecture will also present some new and only recently published information that significantly changes our understanding of the painting.

PART 5 – THE DIVINE MICHELANGELO

Lecture 9 – Michelangelo’s Pietà
• The Pietà was Michelangelo’s first “number one hit”. At the ripe old age of 23 years, he had produced one of the greatest statues of all time.
• The innocence, sensitivity and stillness of this particular early work would never be achieved again in Michelangelo’s 72-year career.

This lecture will explore the meaning and tradition of the “Pietà” subject in art and also address why Michelangelo’s is the most famous interpretation.

Lecture 10 – Michelangelo’s David
• Michelangelo’s statue of the David has been described as the greatest expression of sculpture of all time. Standing 17’1’’ in height and weighing just over 5 tons, the sheer scale of the statue is breathtaking. Yet, there is much more to this sculpture than just its size. His near anatomical perfection, his civic value as symbol of the great Florentine Republic, as well as the dramatic narrative tension that Michelangelo’s imbues in the statue all contribute to its extraordinary quality.

This lecture will explore the history, iconography and importance of the sculpture that probably best defines the Renaissance, as well as the great artist who produced it.

PART 6 – THE HIGH RENAISSANCE IN ROME

Lecture 11 – Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel Ceiling
• When Michelangelo signed the contract with Pope Julius II in 1508 to paint the Sistine Chapel Ceiling, little did he know the turmoil that awaited him. Never before had such a large-scale painting been attempted on a ceiling – and by a sculptor no less!
After four and a half years of physical strain, personal conflict with the pope, and an endless demand for inspiration, Michelangelo covered approximately 9,000 sq. ft. of ceiling with some of the most beautiful and sublime figures in history.

This lecture will examine the artistic importance, style and meaning of the of the ceiling, as well the extraordinary human drama behind its creation.

Lecture 12 – Raphael and the School of Athens
• The painter Raphael was one of the most talented and skilled painters in history. Although best known for his intimate and sentimental images of Mary and Baby Jesus, his great mural of the School of Athens, in the former library of Pope Julius II (now known as the Stanza della Segnatura), best defines him. In this painting, his depiction of the greatest philosophical and scientific minds of the ancient world, Raphael demonstrates his unrivaled ability to create a balanced composition, as well as sublime figures.

This lecture will formally identify its characters, which, in some cases, are also portraits of Renaissance artists, as well as analyze how Raphael synthesized the styles of Leonardo and Michelangelo into his own unique painting style.

Buy:
- Unlimited lifetime access
- Download videos to watch offline
- Available on Apple and Android

Rent:
- Unlimited access for 30 days
- Download videos to watch offline
- Available on Apple and Android