ARTH 2000 - Renaissance Art in Northern Europe

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2020

This course examines the production of art in northern Europe between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries during the Renaissance, with a particular focus on Flanders and the Netherlands (the `Low Countries?), Germany, Switzerland, and France. The invention of the printing press, impact of the Protestant Reformation, and cultural encounters with Italian Renaissance artists, patrons, and humanists provide a dynamic framework for interpreting works of art that contextualises innovations in materials and techniques and the development of new themes and genres in sacred and secular northern European art.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ARTH 2000
    Course Renaissance Art in Northern Europe
    Coordinating Unit Art History
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study
    Course Description This course examines the production of art in northern Europe between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries during the Renaissance, with a particular focus on Flanders and the Netherlands (the `Low Countries?), Germany, Switzerland, and France. The invention of the printing press, impact of the Protestant Reformation, and cultural encounters with Italian Renaissance artists, patrons, and humanists provide a dynamic framework for interpreting works of art that contextualises innovations in materials and techniques and the development of new themes and genres in sacred and secular northern European art.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Lisa Mansfield

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1 Demonstrate knowledge of innovations in the visual arts during the Northern Renaissance. 
    2 Formally analyse works of art using discipline-specific terminology.
    3 Use appropriate digital technologies and tools for research. 
    4 Interpret and evaluate a variety of primary and secondary sources, including images and objects. 
    5 Work independently and cooperatively in small group discussion and problem solving. 
    6 Articulate insightful research questions in both verbal and written modes of expression persuasively. 
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 4, 6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    4, 5, 6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1, 5, 6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 4, 6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    5, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Prescribed tutorial readings (PDFs) will be available on MyUni as an electronic reading list.
    Recommended Resources
    There is no prescribed text. The following scholarly survey books on Northern Renaissance art and visual culture will be useful background reading for the course:

    Chipps Smith, Jeffery. The Northern Renaissance. London: Phaidon Press, 2004.

    Harbison, Craig. The Mirror of the Artist: Northern Renaissance Art in its Historical Context. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1995.

    Nash, Susie. Northern Renaissance Art. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.

    Snyder, James. Northern Renaissance Art: Painting, Sculpture, the Graphic Arts from 1350 to 1575. New Jersey: Prentice Hall; New York: Abrams, 1985.

    Online Learning
    MyUni

    Announcements

    Discussion forum

    Lecture recordings

    Lecture and tutorial images (powerpoint presentations) 

    Instructions for assessment tasks

    Assignment submission (Turnitin)

    External resources (museum and gallery websites; databases for academic literature and images) 

    BSL subject guides
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Weekly lectures (1 hour) and tutorials (2 hours), including a small number of weeks conducted online witih replacement structured learning activities on MyUni.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Lectures (1 x 1-hour per week) 12 hours 
    Tutorials (1 x 2 hours per week) 24 hours
    Reading 42 hours
    Research 42 hours
    Assignment preparation 18 hours
    Structured online learning activities 18 hours
    TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Lecture and Tutorial Schedule
    Week 1 Introduction to Course Essential Toolkit
    Week 2 The Concept of the Northern Renaissance Readings Workshop
    Week 3 Flemish art in the fifteenth century Visual Analysis Workshop
    Week 4 From Altarpieces to Devotional Images  Art and Empathy
    Week 5 Portraiture and Patronage Portraying Betrothal and Marriage
    Week 6 Pioneers of Printmaking Witches in Woodcuts and Engravings
    Week 7 Germany and the Netherlands in the Sixteenth Century Weird and Wonderful Bosch
    Week 8 Northern Humanism The Northern Artist as Genius
    Week 9 Reformation and Iconoclasm Research Workshop
    Week 10 Cultural Exchange North and South of the Alps Swiss Artist Mercenaries 
    Week 11 Genre and Lowlife Painting Bruegel's Peasants
    Week 12 Still Life Painting Market Scenes by Aertsen and Beuckelaer
    Specific Course Requirements
    Students are required to miss no more than three tutorials (unless due to documented medical illness or provision of an Access Plan to the Course Coordinator).
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Due Learning Outcome
    Short Essay

    Formative and Summative

    20% During semester 1, 4, 6 
    Visual Analysis  Formative and Summative 35% During semester 1, 2, 3, 4
    Research Essay  Formative and Summative  45% After semester 1-6
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students must submit all assessment tasks to pass the course.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Task Description 
    Short Essay Students will be required to write a short essay (1,000 words) on a prescribed question related to one of the weekly tutorial topcs. 
    Visual Analysis  Students will be required to write a comparative visual analysis (1,500 words)
    Research Essay  Students will be required to write a research essay (2,000 words) on a prescribed question. 
    Submission
    Assessment tasks must be submitted using Turnitin on MyUni by midnight of the due date.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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