DU2406 Armenian Sculpture of Early Christian Period in the Context of Byzantine Art

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Zaruhi Hakobian (lecturer), prof. Ivan Foletti, MA, Docteur es Lettres, Docent in Church History (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. Ivan Foletti, MA, Docteur es Lettres, Docent in Church History
Department of Art History – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Art History – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The lectures will be devoted to Armenian sculpture of the early Christian period (5th to 7th centuries). The course of lectures will focus on the main sculptural monuments of the period, their relation with the Eastern Christian or Byzantine world, the features of the regional artistic style and iconography. Special attention will be paid to monumental sculpture and its relation with religious architecture, churches, tombs as well as free-standing monuments, stelae. Artistic schools (by regions) as well as special themes and iconographic compositions will be highlighted. We will draw parallels and make comparisons with early Christian and Byzantine sculpture as well as monuments of the South Caucasus region. In the context of the early medieval period, we will talk about stelae with a rich pictorial program. Several small topics will be highlighted, such as the main principles of facade decoration, Christian symbols, images of floral patterns and animals, including fabulous ones, with an interpretation of their symbolic meanings. Also, we will touch upon figurative images and Christological scenes concerning the sculpture of the 7th century. More detailed descriptions and analysis will be offered for such iconic edifices as Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the churches of Mren, Zvartnots, Ptgni, and Syunivank. We will also provide relevant bibliography and topics for discussion within the seminar.
Learning outcomes
Student will be able to: • - Identify and summarize important features of the major moments of the history of Late Antique Armenia; • - undestand and critically analyze historiography and concepts related to this environment; • - produce an analytical study of selected artifacts;
Syllabus
  • The course will consist of ten lectures on the following topics: Sculptural Decoration of the Armenian Churches of the 5th to 6th Centuries (2 lectures); Sculptural Decoration of the Christian Martyria of the 5th to 7th Centuries (2 lectures); Early Christian Art of Karabagh (Artsakh) and the Problem of the Christian Art of Caucasian Albania (1 lecture);The Stelae of Armenia and Georgia (2 lectures), and Sculptural Decoration of Armenian Churches of the 7th century (3 lectures).
Literature
  • MARANCI, Christina. Vigilant powers : three churches of early medieval Armenia. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2015, 281 stran. ISBN 9782503549002. info
  • DONABÉDIAN, Patrick. L'âge d'or de l'architecture arménienne : VIIe siècle. Marseille: Parenthèses, 2008, 331 pp. ISBN 9782863641729. info
  • THIERRY DE CRUSSOL, Jean-Michel. Les arts Arméniens. Edited by Nicole Thierry - Patrick Donabédian. Paris: Éditions Mazenod, 1987, 623 stran. ISBN 2850880175. info
  • BECKWITH, John. Coptic sculpture : 300-1300. London: Alec Tiranti, 1963, vii, 56. info
  • GRABAR, André. Sculptures byzantines de Constantinople (IVe - Xe siècle). Paris: Librairie Adrien Maisonneuve, 1963, 139 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures
Assessment methods
written paper
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Note related to how often the course is taught: (classes take place during the week of November 18-22).
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2024/DU2406