Italian Renaissance Art c1400-1600



Overview

From Italian Renaissance art and Renaissance painting to tapestry, tableware and material culture, the story of Renaissance art and culture continues to fascinate us today. This course explores the cultural, social and historical context of one of the most influential periods in art history.

The Italian Renaissance gave us some of the most popular and powerful works of art ever created. It witnessed the discovery of mathematical perspective, the refinement of different media such as oil painting and fresco, and the development of secular and classical themes, as well as religious subjects. It experienced a varied and invigorating cultural life that included the flourishing of humanism and a renewed interest in the antique world, but also strong trade links and diplomatic relationships with Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Rather than strictly focusing on the art of big names like Michelangelo and Raphael, this course will introduce you to a wide range of 'art' that was central to Renaissance people's lives. This includes three-dimensional art objects and paintings that decorated the religious spaces and homes of Renaissance Italians. It will also give you the opportunity to learn about the works of earlier, less-known artists who shaped the culture we now know as the Italian Renaissance. The course is for anyone interested in the art, history and culture of a period that continues to influence and inspire us today.

This course has no live sessions. You will study structured materials at your own pace each week with support of a tutor. Find out more about how our short online courses are taught.

Programme details

The course is broken down into 10 units over 10 weeks, each requiring approximately 10 hours of study time. The following topics are covered:

Unit 1: The Renaissance in Italy

Unit 2: The Production of Art

Unit 3: Materials and Processes

Unit 4: Patronage

Unit 5: Civic Power: Art on the streets

Unit 6: Institutional Devotion

Unit 7: Religious material culture

Unit 8: Art and the Home

Unit 9: Art and the Expression of Self

Unit 10: Contrasts and Comparisons

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral, and very rewarding, part of the course and the online learning experience.

Textbooks

To participate in this course, you will need to have regular access to the Internet and you will need access to the following textbook -

Campbell, Stephen J., and Cole, Michael, W., A New History of Italian Renaissance Art, London, Thames & Hudson, 2017

(The first edition of this textbook was published as Campbell, Stephen J., and Cole, Michael W., Italian Renaissance Art, London, Thames & Hudson, 2012)

Please ensure you are able to access copies of any required textbooks prior to enrolling on a course but please keep in mind that courses with insufficient students enrolled will be cancelled. The Department accepts no responsibility for books bought in anticipation of a course running.

Digital Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework. All those enrolled on an online courses are registered for credit and will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

See more information on CATS points

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £415.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Mrs Emma Rose Barber

Emma Rose Barber is an art historian who has been teaching and lecturing for over twenty years. She specialises in the art of the Renaissance: the Italian Renaissance and the northern Renaissance. Latterly, she has become a specialist in medieval art and culture, in particular illuminated manuscripts, as part of her PhD studies. She was the head of the art history department at the British Institute in Florence between 2002-2006. Currently she teaches at the Open University and SOAS as well as the University of Oxford's Department for Continuing Education. She has also recently started a blog called The Shy Churchgoer, dedicated to celebrating the art and history of churches.

Course aims

This course will enable you to:

  • Increase your understanding of Italian art and culture, as well as the social, economic and geographic factors that made this period so unique.
  • Improve your ability to express reasoned and critical analyses of works of art using a variety of methods and sources.
  • Communicate your own ideas about the art of the period and widen your viewpoint through discussions with other students.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will be able to understand:

  • The social, political and historical factors that gave rise to the flourishing of art in this period.
  • The variety of different artistic styles current during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Italy.
  • The significance of so-called decorative art forms.


By the end of this course students will have gained the ability to:

  • Evaluate a variety of sources.
  • Communicate ideas and join in group discussions.
  • Think critically about established historical traditions.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

 

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form

Level and demands

This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.

This course is offered at FHEQ level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level) and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

 

IT requirements

This course is delivered online; to participate you must to be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support