Velazquez and the Court of Spain (U01085)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : ACE-4-HVelazque

It is intended that this course provide a close focus on the career of Velazquez as a painter, courtier and art adviser to Philip IV. Close scrutiny of the oeuvre as a whole, set in the context of Golden Age Spain, will however be balanced by a consideration of how artists and critics have responded to the painter in his lifetime and up until the death of Francis Bacon. The nature of Velazquez as a painter of still-life in Seville (bodegones) will then be succeeded by a consideration of his work as court portraitist in Madrid; culminating in the creation of Las Meninas. The genre of portraiture, and the contribution which Velazquez made to mythological painting, demands a comparison between his pictures and those of Titian and Rubens. The course will then broaden out chronologically and the final sessions will consider Velazquez in relation to French 19th century painting and the impact the artist made on the art of the 20th century with particular reference to Picasso. In addition we shall examine Velazquez' technique as painter; something of abiding concern to the many artists who have been influenced by his work over the centuries.

Entry Requirements

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

? Prohibited combinations : This course is not available to students on the BA Humanities and Social Science degree.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

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

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

? Additional Class Information : Seminars will take place on Tuesdays 0900-1050 and 1110-1300. Students to attend one of these.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

My 4th year seminar on Velazquez is more specialised. Therefore the learning outcomes may be expected to be different. First the intention is that students will gain a very clear grasp of how the career of the artist, in all its aspects, developed c.1620-1660. It should be possible for students to be confident about dating pictures. In addition students should also have achieved an awareness of the nature of cultural life in Spain during the Golden Age. There will too need to be a clear comprehension of issues to be considered in relation to the dialogue between an artist and his patrons in early modern Europe. Finally students should be fully acquainted on the literature relating to Velazquez's technique and the controversies these technical aspects have given rise to.