ART 320 - Seminar in Medieval Art

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Topic for 2023/24b: Saintly Bodies and Holy Shrines: The Art and Architecture of Medieval Pilgrimage. Throughout the Middle Ages, millions of travelers traversed hundreds of miles of unfamiliar, foreign lands to venerate the bodies of saints. From England to the tip of the Iberian Peninsula, from Scandinavia to Rome, medieval pilgrims embarked on months-long journeys to seek spiritual favor, perform penance, or simply escape quotidian life. Art served as the mediator of these experiences. This course examines the four major medieval Christian pilgrimages—Jerusalem, Rome, Compostela, and Canterbury—and the artistic production associated with each. We study monumental basilicas, gleaming body-part reliquaries, and miniature pilgrim’s badges while considering the spiritual, physical, and social aspects of the rite. Elizabeth Lastra.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

One 2-hour period.

Course Format: CLS