Undergraduate Course: Rembrandt Studies (HIAR10018)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | History of Art |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.arts.ed.ac.uk/fineart |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Rembrandt was the greatest painter working in the united Provinces in the 17th century and his name is instantly recognised throughout the world. His range of subject matter, innovative treatment of traditional themes, development of style and technique in drawing, printmaking and oil painting were unequalled: his art has, nevertheless raised strong, conflicting responses. One of the recent issues in debates about Rembrandt has been that of authorship and authenticity. Rembrandt held a unique position in the development and understanding of art in Western Europe through, not only his own works, but also that of his large group of students, all of whom demonstrate his influence, although many developed as major masters in their own right, with identifiable artistic characteristics and personalities. Later generations have confused the work of student and master, with the result that far too many works were attributed to Rembrandt's sole hand rather than to his students and followers. These problems of the ownership of particular works has led to major misinterpretations of art historical issues such as the development of individual artists in Rembrandt's own circle and the direction of Rembrandt's own oeuvre. In the mid 20th century the Netherlandish government responded by setting up the Rembrandt Research Project to resolve these problems using scientific resources to assist authentication of particular works. This seminar course is based an a detailed study of the work of Rembrandt and his circle through comparative case histories, taken principally from the Rembrandt material available at first hand in the National Gallery of Scotland and other Scottish collections. The influence of the Rembrandt school, through drawings, paintings and prints, on art historical writings and on 19th century artistic practice in Northern Europe, will be studied. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
| Through a close analysis of style, subject and technique, students will come to grips with some of the fundamental issues that engage scholars in art historical discourse about Rembrandt and his immediate imitators. While studying the achievement of Rembrandt and his influence in Northern Europe students will gain an understanding of the local collections of Dutch art, particularly the collections of prints. Through direct contact with original works of art they will hone skills of visual acuity and analysis, and will develop a discriminating, specialist, vocabulary. Visits to scientific laboratories will encourage students to think in an interdisciplinary way and to understand how science may assist art historians in coming to a view about the attribution of a work of art to a particular artist and/or period. They will build up an understanding of Rembrandt's working methods and techniques which will help them to understand his influence on the art of subsequent centuries. By the end of the course students should be able to address problems and form a view about authenticity in Rembrandt studies. They will have learned to work collaboratively in seminar groups and independently, using archival material while preparing their essay. Oral communication skills will be practiced during the weekly seminar presentations and in the final public forum on Rembrandt: Fakes, Forgeries and Attributions, where each student will give a short paper. They will have an opportunity to defend their ideas during feedback sessions. Students will acquire practical skills from working in the Conservation Research Laboratory. |
Assessment Information
| 1 two hour examination paper (50%) and 1 extended essay (50%) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jean Patricia Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)51 6787
Email: J.P.Campbell@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Sue Cavanagh
Tel: (0131 6)51 1460
Email: Sue.Cavanagh@ed.ac.uk |
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