ARTS 503 Advanced Studies in Baroque Art

We shall examine the development of art and architecture in Italy, Spain, France, and the Lowlands, centering upon the works of seminal artists including Caravaggio, Bernini, Borromini, Velazquez, Poussin, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Dyck. Accordingly, we shall investigate how the art of the period reflects the Christian worldview as it took shape in the wake of the Reformation and Counter Reformation.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Knowledge of the art of the Baroque period remains of enormous importance for the historian of western civilization and for the practicing artist. The innovations and masterpieces created during the seventeenth century in Europe exemplified foundational cognitive and technical developments that become vital to anyone wishing to understand the western tradition of the visual arts and to work within that tradition intelligently.

Textbook Reading and Presentations

Weekly textbook reading assignments and presentations related to course content.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 3 discussions in this course. The student will post a thread of at least 500 words and 2 replies of at least 250 words. For each thread, the student must support his or her assertions with at least 1 scholarly citation in MLA format and at least 1 example of artwork. Any sources cited must have been published within the last 5 years. Acceptable sources include a peer-reviewed article in an academic journal or a scholarly book found in the Jerry Falwell Library’s Online Databases. 

Virtual Tour and Journal Entry Assignments (2)

Each Virtual Tour and Journal Entry Assignment consists of 2 steps. First, the student will follow the link provided in Canvas to visit the art museum and complete all facets of the tour, making sure to explore all galleries and sub-galleries included. Second, after viewing the virtual tour, the student will compose a journal entry of at least 500 words based on a given prompt. The prompt for each Virtual Tour and Journal Entry Assignment is specific to the content of the tour. The student’s journal entries must contain at least 1 academic citation. Acceptable sources include a peer-reviewed article in an academic journal or a book found in the Jerry Falwell Library’s Online Databases. Current MLA format must be used. The student may use information provided in the virtual tour, the textbook, and credible websites for further research; however, these sources do not count as the 1 academic citation. 

Research Paper Assignments (3)

This assignment affords the student the opportunity to describe and analyze works of art and to demonstrate these skills through the writing of a comprehensive research paper. The student will use this as an opportunity to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the topics covered in this course. The paper will be submitted in three, separate assignments—an initial Project Description and Annotated Bibliography, Introduction and Thesis Statement, and the Final Submission. 

Research Paper: Project Description and Annotated Bibliography Assignment

The student will submit a 1-paragraph description that concisely summarizes what he or she plans to discuss in the research paper. The student will include identification of the 2 Baroque artists he or she will discuss and which of their artworks he or she will analyze to support the ideas the student plans to explore in his or her paper. 

Submit a working bibliography with 5–7 annotated entries. Each annotation should include a summary of the main points of each article or book and how each one relates to/benefits your research project. Each annotation should be at least 100 words. The entries must be addition to the course textbooks and the Bible. 

Research Paper: Introduction and Thesis Assignment

The student will write a clear and concise thesis statement that describes what he or she plans to argue in the research paper. The student will draft a 200–300 word introduction to his or her research paper. Include your thesis statement in “bold” text so that your proposed argument is clear to your instructor. The introduction cites 1 peer-reviewed academic source in current MLA format. Refer to the Research Paper Assignment Overview in Canvas for more information on the topic of the research paper. 

Research Paper: Final Submission Assignment

The student will submit his or her complete research paper, incorporating the edits and suggestions made on his or her thesis statement and introduction. The final submission must have a minimum word count of 1,500–1,700 words in addition to the works cited. The final submission must include a works cited list of sources consulted (at least 5-7 sources in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible). This assignment must be in current MLA format.

Quizzes (8)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material from the assigned Module(s): Week(s). Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 multiple-choice questions, and have a time limit of 2 hours and 45 minutes.