Art and the City: Renaissance to Early Modern (in person)

Traditional accounts of western art during the period between the 16th and early 19th centuries focus on chronological developments: from Renaissance to Baroque; from Neo-classicism to Impressionism.  In relation to cities, however, the history of art is more fragmented and, perhaps, more intriguing.  This course explores the dynamic and complex interactions between artists and the urban communities in which they worked, during a period when cities were increasingly rich and powerful.  We trace the impact of material and intellectual conditions on the arts, while at the same time examining how painters, sculptors and architects shaped the urban environment. Our geographical scope is broad, extending from Cadiz in the west to Moscow in the east.  Together with lectures addressing broad themes related to art and the city (for example images of city interiors and the ideal city), we consider the rise of northern art centres including Bruges, Antwerp and Delft.  We also show how individual artists have come to be identified with particular cities: Bernini with Rome; Rembrandt with Amsterdam, and Hogarth with London.