High Renaissance in Rome

The ‘High Renaissance’ has long been considered an exceptional moment in Western art, synonymous with the work of celebrated artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. In this five-week course, we will focus on the High Renaissance in Rome, a city dominated by both its ancient legacy, and the presence of the popes, who were among the most significant artistic patrons of the sixteenth century. We shall begin with an exploration of the defining characteristics of the art of this period, from an engagement with classicism and the pursuit of ideal beauty, to the importance of individual creativity and innovation. And we shall consider the enduring appeal of the ‘High Renaissance’ for subsequent generations of artists and critics. We shall then focus on a number of key commissions carried out by Michelangelo, Raphael and Bramante, notably in the Vatican, which will allow us to examine painting, sculpture and architecture.

Lectures

Week 1  The Idea of the ‘High Renaissance’, and Rome as the City of the Popes
Week 2  Revival and Reinvention: The Legacy of Classical Antiquity
Week 3  Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel
Week 4  Raphael at the Vatican
Week 5  Bramante and High Renaissance Architecture