Prerequisite: ART 220 or permission of the instructor. (Second
semester—odd years/ 3 credits) This course examines the artistic
production and archaeological discovery of the classical age —
from the emergence of Greek culture after the Bronze Age to the
reign of Constantine (Rome’s first Christian emperor). Both the
technological innovations and stylistic developments
characteristic of this period will be studied in the major
genres of visual representation: painting, sculpture,
architecture, mosaic and the decorative arts. Readings/ lectures
on the history, literature, philosophy and daily life of the
Greeks and Romans will supplement the visual material. The
placement of these objects and monuments within their cultural
context will be emphasized, with the ultimate goal being a
theoretical understanding of the function(s) of art within
classical cultures. Finally, the impact of classical art and
culture on later periods of western civilization will be
discussed, as well as issues of archaeology and cultura