Teaching directory
Course 2024-2025

Architecture and monumental decoration of the Middle Ages [LARTB040]

  • 3 credits
  • 30h
  • 1st quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français

Learning outcomes

The course proposes to deepen the analysis of architecture both stylistically and structurally as well as in its historical framework. The student learns to handle the notion of architectural archetype, model, copy, and tries to understand the role of a building in its context, the reasons that justify the success, or failure, of a new form, and to learn the global reading of monumental decoration (techniques, typology, style, placement in the building, iconography).

Content

The course considers the architectural production of the Middle Ages through thematic modules. In addition to Western religious architecture, the monastic architecture of the early Middle Ages, domestic architecture, defensive architecture and Byzantine architecture are all potential module themes. This pedagogical approach, which is also favoured for the course on architecture of the Modern Period, makes it possible to vary the way in which architecture and its decoration are approached and to insert new modules from one year to the next, depending on the evolution of research but also on the complementarity of this course with other FUNDP courses. Within each module, the subject matter progresses according to a chronological framework.


Teaching methods

Teaching techniques The course is based on multimedia documents, such as power-point, and on the use of a collection of texts. The course is based on multimedia documents, such as power-point, and the use of a collection of texts. When possible, teaching sessions in the field, in Namur or in other cities in Belgium or in neighbouring regions, are used to complement the classroom sessions. Pedagogical documents - Course outline, table of contents, bibliography - Powerpoints - Reading portfolio.

Evaluations

Oral examination, lasting about twenty minutes, during which the student is required to demonstrate his or her mastery of the subject by answering an open-ended question, favouring a transversal reading of the subject, and also by answering a few short questions, and then by submitting to an analysis of images during which he or she must identify the characteristics of the architecture observed and then use them to try to situate this architecture in its spatio-temporal context.

Recommended readings

For a quick refresher course: - HECK, Ch. (ed.), Moyen âge: la chrétienté et l'Islam, Paris: Flammarion, 2007 (Histoire de l'art. Flammarion). - Bibliography given during the course

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de philosophie et lettres
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree