Sinners, Saints and Seers: Scottish, Irish and English art from 600-900 (U03982)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : ACE-3-U03982

This seminar investigates the artistic production in Scotland, Ireland and England from 600-900. Few illuminated manuscripts of this period have a fixed place or date of origin. In a time marked by war and conversion, books and artists were constantly on the move. Even stone sculptures that are standing in or near their original sites have been significantly altered, surviving erosion, iconoclasm and “restorations”. Additionally, some of the most significant sculptures occur in sites that have no known association with a religious or secular centre. The course is loosely structured around geographical areas. Additionally, two monastic centres, Iona/Kells and Wearmouth/Jarrow are examined as case-studies for the creation and dissemination of scribes, artists and artworks. At the end of the course, we will consider the lasting impact of Insular art on that of the continent. Throughout the course, even within the context of relatively secular artworks, emphasis is placed upon an underlying coherence of the material, based upon the dynamic interrelationship between indigenous beliefs and styles and the influence of liturgy, exegesis and Mediterranean exemplars.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : A pass in either History of Art 2 or Architectural History 2a and 2b

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History of Art, (School of Arts, Culture and Environment, Schedule A)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	11:10	12:00	Central

? Additional Class Information : As well as the lectures (times above), there will be two seminars on Thursdays. One will take place from 0900-1050 and the other from 1110-1300. students will be required to attend one of these.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

• Learning Intent: A thorough knowledge of artwork produced in the British Isles and Ireland 600-900A.D; specifically in terms of historical/religious context, style and iconographic program. An ability to conceptualize monastic centres such as Iona/Kells and Wearmouth/Jarrow and their impact on the art of this period. Equally, students should be able to critically engage with the challenges and issues face by Insular scholarship in terms of defining stylistic influence and cultural borders.
• Process and Resources: Through reading primary and secondary sources and analyses of artworks during lectures and seminars, students will become familiar with the significant artworks of the period. Seminar discussion should enable students to analyze visual material and scholarship in a more critical fashion, exploring controversies within the secondary literature. Additionally, trips to the National Museum of Scotland and sites in Perthshire and Angus will facilitate an understanding of the problems and possible solutions for analysis of the visual material from this period.
• Criteria for Assessment: Students will demonstrate learning through seminar discussion, presentations, essays, and exams. Student accomplishment will be assessed in terms of the breadth and depth of knowledge of the art objects well as a more critical engagement with issues raised in analysing such works.