PREREQUISITE: Art 2202 or permission of the instructor

REQUIRED TEXTS: Hans Vlieghe  Flemish Art and Architecture 1585-1700, and Seymour Slive Dutch Painting 1600-1800. (optional: Kristin Lohse Belkin Rubens). All available in the bookstore. Assigned readings are specified on the schedule attached. Additional sources will be given as handouts, placed on the website or on reserve in the library. Material presented in lectures presupposes that you have completed reading and writing assignments prior to class. You should expect to re-read and study texts again, perhaps several times. Text readings will supplement material presented in lectures. They are not a substitute for engaged attention in the classroom.

COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES: We will explore the concepts and formal characteristics of the Baroque in drawing, painting, and printmaking, and, to a lesser extent, architecture, decoration, and sculpture. Our main emphasis will be on painting, with architecture as subject matter for certain works. The chronological and topical structure of this course emphasizes an understanding of works of art within their art historical framework – as expressions of complex and changing social structures. We will examine the art in relationship to effects of the Counter-Reformation in the Southern and Northern Netherlands (Flanders and Holland), other societal/cultural issues of the era, more particularly with regard to the characters and personalities of specific artists who made remarkable contributions. We will examine them in terms of technique and specific types of subject matter which were specially emphasized during the era: religion/history painting, classical revival pieces, portraiture, genre, landscape/marine, architectural studies, still life, and light & drama studies of the "Caravaggisti". This presumes a mastery of the basic vocabulary of form and ability to verbalize spatial and artistic concepts, as learned in your survey classes, as well as knowledge of the basic principles of the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Counter-Reformation.  Your mastery will be demonstrated through 4 exams, written exercises, a research paper, and class discussions.

RELATIONSHIP OF COURSE GOALS TO PROGRAM GOALS. This course facilitates progress towards Art Department goals of familiarity of students with works and intentions of major artists/designers and movements of the past and present; helps to develop visual sensitivity and the conceptualization means of artists, including technical processes.

Writing Across The Curriculum: This course has a "W" designation, as it is a Writing Across the Curriculum course. WAC accepts as a guiding principle that writing is valuable tool for learning and communication. Therefore, the course writing components are designed to help you learn the material and communicate what you have learned. As a WAC course, it demands a variety of informal and formal writing assignments which are intended to stimulate "writing to learn" (WTL) as well as "writing to communicate" (WTC).

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: UWG adheres to requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need accommodation, contact Disability Student Services at 678-839-6428.

EXAMS: All exams are in essay format (WTC). Final Exam is cumulative. You are expected to accrue and retain skills, concepts, and terms throughout the term. Exams might include (but may not be limited to) image identifications and analysis or comparison of known or unknown works, themed essays. You are expected to make your own intelligent observations, based upon thoughtful consideration of works from class, texts, lecture material. No Makeup Exams Will Be Given.

REFLECTIVE EXERCISES: These are designed to help you learn by synthesizing material (WTC), from reading, lectures, your own exploration. For specific exercises, you will be given topics/scholarly journal articles upon which to write (type) a 1-2 page essay, in which you will discuss your response to the ideas and position of the scholar/author. It is expected that you will incorporate class material and your own observations about the ways certain elements and ideas are related to one another, and that you probe in some depth, rather than respond in a superficial manner.  Some of this is difficult material, as scholars of this era are apt to be quite theoretical in their approach. It will generally be most helpful if you seek to understand how art functioned for the people for whom it was intended, putting yourself in the intended audience for the work, to enhance your understanding and integrate comprehension.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING: You are responsible for all assigned readings, for material presented in lectures, for assigned writings, and for term papers. Requirements and guidelines for term papers will be provided. Attendance at lectures and participation in discussions are issues in determining the grade for class participation. Grades will be calculated as follows:

• Exam 1                                                  55 points
• Exam 2                                                  65 points
• Exam 3                                                  70 points
• Final Exam                                          85 points
• Term Project                                            100 points
• Reflective exercises: 4 @ 30    120 points
• Attendance 1 point/day                30 points
• TOTAL                                                   525 points

TERM PROJECT: You are required to complete a term project – an individual research project on a topic or issue related to Flemish or Dutch art of the 17^th–century. This will result in a written paper (10-12 pages text + references, images, bibliography), due on the 14^th of November. The purpose of the assignment is to incorporate the object or subject of your choice into the framework of issues of this course. Your project must follow certain guidelines and specifications, but you will have some latitude in choice, subject to my approval. Among the possible choices of theme will be that work of art in relationship to other works, or to a cultural or social issue. It is my hope that you will find a topic for which you have enthusiasm, and that you will pursue it with energy and pleasure. Detailed directives and requirements will be posted on the website.

ATTENDANCE AND CLASS PARTICIPATION: Needless to say, you are expected to attend class and to participate in discussions. You are responsible for awareness of any changes of assignment or course schedule announced in class, and for any handouts. As thorough lecture notes and visual familiarity with slides shown are essential to the successful completion of the course, attendance will be taken on a regular basis. As a courtesy to your fellow students, you should avoid tardiness and leaving class early, as well as leaving during the class period. In the event of your absence, you are responsible for lecture material and should get notes from another student. It is not my policy to provide notes or to give individualized lectures.

You will lose points off your final grade for each absence and for each tardy or early departure.  Because I consider attendance and attention so important, the penalties for absence, tardiness, lack of participation are accordingly severe, as follows: