Advanced Placement Art History

Advanced Placement Art History is a Fine Arts Elective open to all students in grades 11 and 12. It is a yearlong course, designed to provide the same benefits to secondary school students as those provided by introductory college courses in art history: an understanding and knowledge of architecture, sculpture, painting and other art forms within diverse historical and cultural contexts. In the course, students examine major forms of artistic expression from the past and the present from a variety of cultures. They learn to look at works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to analyze and interpret what they see. The AP Art History course offers a chronological survey of art from prehistoric times to present day art. Although the majority of the course focuses on Western art and architecture, students are also involved in researching and learning about the artistic trends and influences of cultures outside of the United States and Europe. Beginning with Prehistoric art, and finishing with Post-Modernism, students will explore the historical, social, religious, economical and cultural context of all forms of art. Student Skill Objectives Upon completion of this course, a student should be able to: A. Identify works of art in terms of their historical placement, media, and artist, from the prehistoric era to the twentieth century B. Demonstrate the use of the language of the artist (i.e., line, form, color, space, and composition) in speaking and writing about art C. Demonstrate the ability to recognize the aesthetic quality of art forms D. Draw reference from historical analogies and prototypes in order to relate works ranging widely in time and space E. Complete research papers on a college level Class Instruction A schedule of class topics and homework will be distributed at the beginning of each chapter. Students will preview the class topic by reading the related section of the book prior to class. A brief quiz on the homework reading will be given at the beginning of class. Lectures, class discussions, video presentations, or other forms of instruction will be given to enhance and reinforce the days topic. Emphasis will be placed on the following: Ability to analyze the formal elements of art Familiarity with the vocabulary of art

Knowledge of art media and production techniques and their impact on art Developing a visual memory of a body of art works Ability to write analytical and comparative essays about art Homework Assignments The chapter schedule will include homework assignments for the duration of the chapter. There will be reading assignments for each day, which will require notes and other written assignments. 1. READING NOTES- Students will be required to take notes or fill in a Study Guide based on each nights reading assignment. These will be turned in at the end of the unit. 2. INFORMATION SHEETS- Students will also be required to fill out Information Sheets on particular pieces of art. These will be indicated on the initial homework assignment paper by the picture number in the book. 3. FORMAL ANALYSIS- Students will choose one or two key pieces of art from each chapter and write a thorough and detailed formal analysis of the work The Formal Analysis will include: A. A drawing or picture of the piece of art, B. A listing of the basic information such as title, artist, etc. C. A very detailed description of the artwork, as if described to someone who has never seen it. D. A listing of artistic characteristics, which tell how the art is typical of that period of art. E. Any information on historical references that would assist in the understanding of the development of the piece of art. F. Further Notes anything of interest that wasnt covered anywhere else. Class Presentations For each unit, there will be student presentations which give an in-depth look at a particular piece of art shown in the chapter. Student names, and the pieces assigned to them will be listed on the chapter assignment sheet. Students will have 5 to 10 minutes to teach the rest of the class about the artwork assigned, by showing pictures, giving a brief power point presentation, and/or distributing handout sheets describing it. Quizzes-

There will be brief daily quizzes based on reading assignments. Unit Tests At the conclusion of every one or two chapters, a test will be given. These will be in the same format as the AP test which will be given in May. There will be multiple choice questions, and short and long essay questions. Non-European Paper/Presentation Students will work in pairs or groups to research, and prepare a detailed class presentation and term paper about the art and architecture of a Non-European culture (Japanese, Chinese, African, Mayan, etc.) These presentations will be given in mid-January, following the Mid-term exam. Class Participation Class Participation is crucial to the AP Art History Class. There will be several forms of participation including: Answering questions in class Participating in class discussions and activities Attentiveness in Class Class Presentations Grades Marking period grades will be calculated using the following formula: Homework chapter notes, info sheets Quizzes daily quizzes on reading assignments Analysis detailed formal analysis of an art piece Tests - multiple choice questions and essays Participation class discussions, presentations, etc. Class Trip Students will be given the opportunity to visit at least two art museums in New York (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters, the Museum of Modern Art, etc.) or Philadelphia (the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum, etc.). They will be given an extensive preview information on the work to be seen, and will complete a review activity upon their return. 10% 10% 15% 55% 10%

Text Kleiner, Fred S. and Mamiya, Christin J., Gardners Art through the Ages, 12th ed. Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005 Supplemental Texts Adams, Laurie Schneider, Art Across Time, 2nd Ed. Stokstad, Marylin, Art History, Revised 2
nd

McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Edition. Pearson/Prentice Hall

Jansen, H. W. A History of Art. Harry N. Abrams Other Resources Multimedia Manager for Gardners Art through the Ages, 12th Edition: A Microsoft PowerPoint Tool, Thomson/Wadsworth Gardners Art through the Ages Study Guide Volume I and Volume II, Thomson/Wadsworth ArtStudy 2.0 CD-ROM, Version II, Thomson/Wadsworth Barnett, Sylvan, A Short Guide to Writing about Art. Harper Collins The College Board: www.apcentralcollegeboard.com Strickland, Carol, The Annotated Mona Lisa. Andrews McNeel Publishing Kleiner, Fred S. and Mamiya, Christin J., Gardners Art through the Ages: A Concise History 1st edition. Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006 Several hundred books, periodicals, VHS tapes and DVD recordings on art, art history and history from the art department collection, the high school library, and the teachers personal collection.

Major Concepts and Topics Presented as Units

Week 1- Introduction: The Subjects and Vocabulary of Art History
What is Art? What is Art History? Learning the skills and vocabulary to write about art: how to analyze form, content, style and context; understanding the structure of art: the visual elements and principles of design; understanding the media and techniques involved; using Wolfflinian concepts to determine relationships of artworks; learning to look for the historical and cultural background of works of art, and observe the influences of the art.

Readings: Text Introduction chapter, excerpts on Writing about Art History, Wolfflinian Art History Concepts.

Week 2 - Africa, Europe, and the Near East in the Stone Age The Art of the Ancient Near East
The worlds oldest art and its relationship to those who created it; the art of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods; the beliefs and rituals of ancient civilizations, identifiable characteristics of art of various cultures, and comparisons between different cultural styles and time periods; art of the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians and other Ancient Near Eastern cultures, and the influences of geography, agriculture, political and economic structure, and religious beliefs on their art and architecture. Readings: Text- Chapters 1 &2, excerpts on Ancients Near Eastern artifacts Unit Test: Introduction to Art History, Art of the Stone Age and Ancient Near East

Week 3 The Art of Ancient Egypt

The art and architecture of the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms of Ancient Egypt; the geography, civilization, royal figures and divinities, funerary practices and temple structures; understanding the concept of art created for eternity in the afterlife, adherence to the artistic canon of proportions and need for tradition and stability; distinctions between the royalty and the lower classes through hierarchy of scale; obsession with preparation for death and the related art and architecture. Readings: Text Chapter 3, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials

Weeks 4 & 5 - The Art of the Prehistoric Aegean & Ancient Greece
The art and architecture of the Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean cultures of the Prehistoric Aegean: the impact of geography, warfare, social relations, and cultural beliefs on their art and architecture. Greek Art and the concept of aesthetics based on mathematical proportions; the concepts of Greek idealism, beauty and individuality; the Geometric and Archaic periods and their artistic characteristics; the evolution of the nude, from the Greek kouros and kore figures to the Hellenistic figures; the stylistic transformations in architecture and the architectural components of the Greek orders; the cultural and historical background of these transformations.

Readings: Text- Chapters 4 & 5, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test: The Art of Ancient Egypt, the Prehistoric Aegean and Ancient Greece

Weeks 6 & 7 The Art of The Etruscans & Ancient Rome

Etruscan Art and its unique characteristics of art and architecture: the unique blend of naturalism and stylization, portrayal of an adventurous and passionate lifestyle; Etruscan ideas on death and burial and the distinguishing elements of the Etruscan temple. Roman Architecture and the development of new materials in building, building types, and city planning; Art in service to the state: large scale works suggesting efficient and powerful government; art used as propaganda for the rich and powerful; Roman painting and mosaics; the desire of the Romans to connect themselves culturally to the ancient Greeks, and the comparison of characteristics of Greek and Roman art and architecture; the stylistic transformations of the portrayal of the figure from verism to idealism, and the ultimate archaicizing of Roman art. Reading: Text- Chapters 9 & 10, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test- Art of the Etruscans and Ancient Rome

Weeks 8 & 9 The Art of Late Antiquity & The Art of Byzantium
Early Christian/ Late Roman Art and the nature of the artwork from the early periods of persecution to the age of recognition; the fusion of Greco-Roman motifs and early Christian symbols; the formation of the gospels and the growth of the early church; the iconography of figures, and the depiction of their stories in manuscripts, mosaics and church decoration; the specific identification of the nature Jesus as the Good Shepherd; the development of the early Christian basilica and temple forms; Byzantine Art and its unique characteristics: the Ravenna mosaics; Justinian and the representation of his imperial power; the origins of and development of the icon and icon representation; the breakup of Christendom into Eastern and Western churches and their stylistic differences; the Hagia Sophia and its architectural innovations.

Reading: Text- Chapters 11 & 12, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test Art of Late Antiquity and Byzantium

Week 10 - End of First Quarter Review and Examination Week 11 Early Medieval Art in the West
The art of Europe after the fall of Rome; a fusion of Christianity, Greco-Roman heritage, and the cultures of the non-Roman peoples north of the Alps; the distinct characteristics of Hiberno-Saxon art and the art of illuminated manuscripts and intricate portable art objects; the Carolingian Renaissance: the architecture, painting, and elaborate books; the definition of the Northern Cathedral and its bay system, and the re-emergence of sculpture. Reading: Text Chapter 16, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials

Week 12 The Age of Pilgrimages: Romanesque Art

Desire for stability and strength in the western Christian world: greatest patrons of art and architecture in Europe become the monasteries; art reflects sense of movement and restlessness: large numbers of people go on pilgrimages or Crusades; larger churches built to accommodate pilgrims, architecture, sculpture and iconography is modeled after that of ancient Rome; monumental sculpture is reborn; regional numerous expressions of conflict and harsh judgment are portrayed in and on churches; regional and stylistic differences in structure and design appear. Reading: Text Chapter 17, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test: Early Medieval Art and Romanesque Art

Weeks 13 & 14 The Age of Great Cathedrals: Gothic Art

Evolution of the French Gothic form in architecture and sculpture: church beset with internal conflict endeavors to demonstrate the power and favor of God through architectural splendor; the distinct characteristics of Early, High and Late Gothic art and architecture; the evolution of pointed arches, vaults, elevations, and stained glass windows; distinct regional styles develop beyond France and into England, Germany and Italy; emergence of the Cult of the Virgin, chivalry, Franciscan and Dominican orders; rise of the role of women in society, as well as the university and scholasticism.

Reading: Text- Chapter 18, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test: Gothic Art

Week 15 Fourteenth Century Italian Art

The Proto-Renaissance in Italy: Cimabue, Giotto, Duccio, and the representative styles of Florence and Siena; The International Style in the South; new style of naturalism with the work of Giotto in the Area Chapel; the effect of the Black Plague of the 1340s; new subject matter-landscapes by the Lorenzetti brothers; construction of larger churches by the Franciscans and the Dominicans; period of pictorial solidity and special depth with stronger emotions from depicted figures. Reading: Text- Chapter 19, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials

Week 16 - 15th Century Art in Northern Europe & Spain

Late Gothic Painting, Sculpture, and the Graphic Arts; the impact of the Black Death, the Hundred Years War between France and England, and the Great Schism in the church had upon the arts; the increased use of oil paint and its use on large scale altarpieces and paintings; the exquisitely refined images seen in the French illuminated manuscripts; the effect the emerging capitalism and urban prosperity had upon the arts; a growing interest in secular such as landscapes and portraits; the technological advances in the graphic arts, particularly the printing press and the development of woodcuts and engravings. Reading: Text- Chapter 20, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test: Art of 14th Century Italy and 15th Century Europe

Weeks 17 & 18 Exploration of the Art of Non-Western Cultures

Students will study the art and architecture of cultures beyond the European tradition. Students will work in pairs or small groups to study assigned non-western cultures: African, Chinese, Japanese, Central and South American, Islamic and Indian cultures. They will prepare and present a 30-minute project which includes a PowerPoint presentation, vocabulary sheet, review pages, and a student activity page or quiz. The presentations must include the geographical and historical

background of the culture, religious beliefs, art materials and methods specific to the culture, how the art of the culture has influenced art and architecture of other or later cultures, and other pertinent information. Upon completion of all presentations, the art of all non-western cultures will be reviewed and discussed. Reading: Text- Chapters 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 & 32 Related reference materials Unit Test: The Art of Africa, Japan, India, Islam, Oceania, and the Americas

Week 19 Midterm Review and Examination

The Birth of Art through The Renaissance and Non-Western Cultures

Week 20 Fifteenth Century Italian Art

The Early Renaissance in Italy, 1400 to 1495; the spread of humanism, the maturation of culture, the abundance of artistic talent, and flourishing of the arts; the renewed interest in classical subjects and the expression of human reason and intellect; artistic competitions which encouraged artists to attempt to develop personal styles; rising status of the artists, and the merchant patrons who allowed them to create without answering to the dictates of the church; the development of the use of perspective in paintings by Masaccio, Fra Angelico, Perugino and others; the trompe loeil effects created by Mantegna, the architectural innovations of Alberti and Brunelescchi, and the classically inspired sculptural works of Donatello, Pollaiuolo, del Verrocchio and others. Readings: Text-Chapter 21, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials

Weeks 20 & 21 - The High Renaissance and Mannerism

The High Renaissance, l495 to 1520:The art of Bramante, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and the Venetians: Giorgione and Titian; Focus given to Rome as the center of gravity and patronage for the art world ; the promotion of Counter Reformation ideals; relationships between the patron and the artist; the rebuilding of St. Peters; characteristics of Venetian art; Women in the Renaissance Art World; 16th century architecture; Palladio, Sansovino, and Della Porta; Mannerism in painting, sculpture and architecture; paving the way for the complexity of the Baroque era.

Readings: Text Chapter 22, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test: Art of the Renaissance

Week 23 16th Century Art in Northern Europe & Spain

The Development of a Northern Style and the Wake of the High Renaissance; the impact of the Reformation and the establishment of Protestantism; the predominance of Germany in the Sixteenth Century: Grunewald, Cranach, and Breugel; Albrecht Durer and the art of woodcuts and engravings; historical and political issues reflected in art; Art and architecture of France; royal chateaux and the Louvre; the prosperous provinces of the Netherlands and the decrease in religious art; landscapes, portraits and self-portraits; Spanish architecture and painting; new directions in art. Readings: Text Chapter 23, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials

Week 24 Baroque Art

The shifting geo-political landscape in Europe; regional differences in art and architecture; The Counter-Reformation and the growth of St. Peters; Carvaggio and his influence; Architecture and ceiling paintings; Berninis architecture and sculpture; the art of Rubens and Catholic Flanders; the art of Rembrandt and Protestant Holland including Vermeer and others of Dutch Heritage; Dutch patronage and art collecting; the art of Velazquez and Baroque Spain; Baroque art of France and England ; the Royal Palace of Versailles, Wrens St. Pauls Cathedral and Royal Banqueting House; Louis XIV and Baroque classicism; Painting, sculpture, and architecture of the late Baroque period. Readings: Text Chapter 24, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test: Art and architecture of Northern Europe and the Baroque era

Week 25 The Late 18th through Mid 19th Century

Rococo Art: the new ornamental French style in art and architecture; fete galante painting; paintings by Fragonard and Watteau; transformations in society and art; The Enlightenment: philosophy and society and its effect on art; scientific and

technological advances; the Taste for the Natural in French painting; the satire of William Hogarth; Grand Manner Portraiture; the art of Colonial America; the veduta paintings of Italian Canaletto; revival of interest in Classicism: the emersion of Neoclassicism; the dramatic paintings of David and their messages; revival of Roman architecture in France; Neoclassicism in England: architecture of Bath, England; the influence of Palladio and medieval artisanship in Neoclassical architecture; Romanticism and the realm of the exotic and erotic; the emotional art of Goya, Gericault, and Delacroix; the dramatic in sculpture; landscape painting in England and the United States; the beginnings of photography. Readings: Text Chapter 28, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test: Early 19th century Art

Week 26 The Later Nineteenth Century

The development of Realism; the depiction of modern life; social criticism and political protest in Daumiers art; scandalous paintings of Manet; the Barbizon School; Realism outside of France: the work of Eakins, Sargent and Tanner; the art of the Pre-Raphaelites; Impressionism and its influences; the work of Renoir, Monet, Degas and others; Japonisme and the allure of the Orient; Post-Impresionism and the experimentations with form and color; the rise of the Avant-Garde; the expression and imagination of the Symbolism movement; Late 19th century sculpture and the work of Carpeaux and Rodin, the Arta and Crafts Movement; Art Nouveau and the Fin-de-Siecle culture; new styles in architecture; stained glass of Tiffany. Readings: Text- Chapter 29, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test: Art and Architecture of the Later 19th century

Week 27- Early 20th Century Art

The effects of industrialization, capitalism, revolution and war on the arts; the evolution of Modernism and the Avante-Garde; the emergence of Expressionism; Fauvism and the art of Matisse; German Expressionism; Abstract art: the work of Picasso; Analytic and Synthetic Cubism; Cubist sculpture; Futurism and Precisionism; Challenging artistic conventions through Dadaism; works by DuChamp, Man Ray and Schwitters; Female art patrons of the early 20th century; The Amory Show and its legacy; developments in photography and the works of

Stieglitz and Weston; European Art of the World War I era; depictions the devastation of war by Kollwitz, Dix and Beckman; Surrealism and fantasy art; the paintings of Kahlo; Suprematism and Constructivism; the BauHaus and its influence of art, craft and architecture; Hitlers Art Show; Art Deco; Natural Architecture and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright; Art as a Political Statement; Regionalism; Mexican muralists. Readings: Text- Chapter 33, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test Art of the early 20th century

Week 28-29 Art of the Later 20th Century

The second half of the 20th century: the impact of World War II on art and society; the shift of the center of art to New York; Postwar Expressionism and the work of Bacon and Dubuffet; the birth of Abstract Expressionism and action painting; Postpainterly abstraction; Minimalism in sculpture and painting; diverse sculptural forms of Nevelson, Bourgeois and Hesse; Performance Art and Happenings; the fundamentals of Conceptual Art; Pop Art and the work of Lichtenstein, Warhol, Oldenburg and others; Superrealism in painting and sculpture; Earthworks of Smithson and Christo; Modernism to PostModernism in Architecture: museums, opera houses and skyscrapers; Deconstructitvist Architecture; New Expressions in Postmodernist painting; art as a political weapon: expressing feminist and civil rights issues through various media; new technologies: video and digital images; Postmodernism and art institutions; the future of art and art history. Readings: Text- Chapter 34, selected excerpts from periodicals and supplemental materials Unit Test Chapter 34

Week 30-31 Review

Major review of all paintings, architecture, sculpture and other art forms from prehistoric times to the present. Review of all vocabulary, art movements, key historical events, art media, subject matter, cultural historical and geographical influences, and characteristics of art of different times and cultures. Review of how to write about art and art history. Various presentations, quizzes, practice tests and activities to enhance the review process.

Week 31 - AP Art History Exam Post - AP Exam Assignment

Students will research two art forms from any time period or culture that has been studied throughout the year. They will create two art pieces, one two-dimensional, and one three-dimensional, in the style of the artist or culture selected. Students will have a variety of art media and instruction made available to them. Upon completion of the projects, students will present their work to the class with a brief description of the historical background, media used, processes involved and other pertinent information.