AH30050 Caravaggio and Caravaggism

Academic Year 2023/2024

Please note: this is a small-group seminar module scheduled on Thursday evenings 6-8pm in the autumn. Many classes will take place in the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin city-centre and will be devoted to student oral presentations/ class discussions in front of relevant paintings in the gallery. On other occasions we will meet in the Rosemarie Mulcahy Seminar Room J004 at Belfield. You must be able to attend at these times/ locations.

During a brief and violent career in Rome, Naples, Sicily and Malta, Caravaggio left an indelible mark on the history of art. His work was revolutionary in its vivid approach to narrative, unsettling realism, and dramatic manipulation of light and shade. Although Caravaggio discouraged imitators, this did not deter the development of a pan-European Caravaggist style in the decades after his death. The extraordinary nature of his critical rehabilitation during the 20th century also highlights his appeal to modern sensibilities. This course seeks to place Caravaggio in the context of the movement he inspired in 17thc Europe. We will explore the different ways in which Caravaggio's innovative style was manipulated by his followers in Italy, the Low Countries, France and Spain. In profiling major participants, Caravaggism’s visual vocabulary will come under scrutiny in an attempt to isolate the source and significance of certain stylistic motifs.

We will attempt to rationalise the Caravaggist phenomenon by addressing the cultural background of the period, taking into account the various demands of private and ecclesiastical patronage. In addition to gauging contemporary and modern perceptions of the artist and his followers, students will be encouraged to consider works in the context of psychoanalytical, feminist and other theoretical approaches relevant to the history of art. Often we will be discussing Caravaggio's impact through the prism of works in the National Gallery of Ireland.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

- an ability to regularly and punctually attend classes on Thursday evenings at Belfield and at the National Gallery of Ireland, work to set deadlines, and submit original, non-plagiarised work in accordance with the standards expected at university and without recourse to AI tools.
- familiarity and understanding of a range of set texts and critical/ theoretical sources relevant to the course (available primarily through the Francoise Henry Reading Room, UCD Library, and in some cases at the National Gallery of Ireland Library) and be able to discuss relevant works under test conditions without reliance on supplementary notes.
- a connoisseurial ability to identify and discuss the main practitioners of the Caravaggesque style and their contribution to the development of European painting.
- how to place the work of Caravaggio and his followers within its social and cultural context.
- an analytical appreciation of Caravaggesque works in local collections.
- an understanding of the defining characteristics of the Caravaggesque style and how to relate them to a variety of analytical methodologies relevant to the history of art.

Indicative Module Content:

During a brief and violent career in Rome, Naples, Sicily and Malta, Caravaggio left an indelible mark on the history of art. His work was revolutionary in its vivid approach to narrative, unsettling realism, and dramatic manipulation of light and shade. Although Caravaggio discouraged imitators, this did not deter the development of a pan-European Caravaggist style in the decades after his death. The extraordinary nature of his critical rehabilitation during the 20th century also highlights his appeal to modern sensibilities.

This module will attempt to rationalise the Caravaggist phenomenon by addressing the cultural background of the period, taking into account the various demands of private and ecclesiastical patronage. In addition to gauging contemporary and modern perceptions of the artist and his followers, students will be encouraged to consider works in the context of psychoanalytical, feminist and other theoretical approaches relevant to the History of Art.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

8
Small Group

14
Specified Learning Activities

39
Autonomous Student Learning

39
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
As well as some lecturers, the course will be largely seminar led, with time set aside for class discussion, student presentations and field work at the National Gallery of Ireland. Students are encouraged to develop their own ideas and not depend upon replicating received scholarly opinion. However, in forming their own informed critical responses they will be strongly encouraged to read widely and familiarise themselves with a range of recommended books and articles available in the library and elsewhere. They will strongly be discouraged from over-relying on electronic resources and digital supports.

It is incumbent any undergraduate student who fails this module to contact the lecturer concerned to announce their attention to resit, and to obtain details of resit assignments. Any resit/ repeat registration/ fee issues should be dealt with by the Arts programme office. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Presentation written up as an essay. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

60
Class Test: End-of-term oral test of 10-20 mins length in which students will talk about images of relevance to the module. Week 12 n/a Graded No

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

You will receive written feedback on your essay and will have the opportunity to discuss this and your slide test performance with the lecturer concerned.

A preliminary reading list for this module is available from Philip Cottrell on request - email philipcottrell@hotmail.com
Name Role
Ms Carla Briggs Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 18:00 - 19:50