Semester:
Offered:
Christina Maranci
The role and function of the image in medieval and early modern art has long formed the subject of scholarly discussion. But few such discussions recognize the striking and rich corpus of Armenian-language texts on art. Armenian primary sources, many of which are published in English or French translation, offer a wealth of information about medieval art-making, the lives and working condition of artists, attitudes towards images, the role of images in worship, and the relative value of images versus texts. We will explore a range of literary genres, including image treatises, correspondence, commentaries, and first-person accounts of artists. We will also look at writing that is literally on art: that is, inscribed monuments, stone sculpture, paintings, textiles, and works in metal, wood, and ceramic. In reading and looking, we will enter a little-known world of astonishing beauty and complexity. (Those who have proficiency will be encouraged to read the texts in the original Armenian).