Course

Christian Art, East and West (I)

This course gives an overview of the use of images and symbols, their aesthetic properties, iconography and meaning within the Christian tradition, from the early days of Christianity until the fall of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. Students will learn about different styles and approaches to images both in the Christian East and West, as well as about the textual sources for understanding and interpreting art in church/liturgical contexts.

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of major themes, concepts and periods in the history of Christian art/visual representations, from the early Christian times until the end of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
  • dentify major stylistic properties of artworks from different periods
  • compare and contrast iconographic and stylistic/visual properties of artworks and individual artists from different periods
  • discuss the properties and meaning of individual artworks within the broader historical, social and cultural contexts

The course literature may be subject to revision.

  • De Capoa, Chiara , 2004. Old Testament figures in art ( A guide to Imagery). J. Paul Getty Museum Publications: Los Angeles California. (160 p.)

  • Džalto, Davor, 2019. Icons: The Orthodox understanding of Images and the Western influence . In: European History Online S. 15 (15 p.) (available online)

  • Fleming, John & Honour, Hugh , 2018. A World of history of art . 7 edition London: Laurence King Publishing. (150 p.)

  • Beckwitt, John , 1986. Early Christian and Byzantine Art . 4 edition London : Phaidon Press. (410 p.)

  • Williamson , Beth , 2004. Christian Art: A very short introduction (Very short Introductions). London & New York : Oxford University Press. (90 p.)

  • Zuffi , Stefano, 2003. Gospel Figures in Art (Guide to Imagery Series). Los Angeles California: J. Paul Getty Museum Publishing. (150 p.)

The schedule is available at the latest one month before the course starts. We do not recommend that you print the schedule as some changes may happen.

Open the Schedule

Grades

A = Excellent, B = Very good, C = Good, D = Satisfactory, E = Sufficient, Fx = Insufficient, F = Insufficient

Examination Format

  • Papers
  • Seminars
  • Take-home examination

General requirements for university studies

Established by Subject Representative College at Enskilda Högskolan Stockholm on January 22, 2020.