article on Symbolism and Iconography
Chapter Assignment Guidelines
Use this assignment guidelines to get started with your research; refer to the chapter’s assignment guidelines for ideas, leads and direction. Your article should be composed and submitted in a MS Document (doc, docx, or pdf) and include the following:
- Format – One to one and a half page (600-750 words) compose your article.
- Content – Begin with a brief introductory paragraph that lays out the context and what you are planning to write about (e.g., “I will demonstrate, through [your specific example] that [your argument for or against the main thesis from the introduction].”)
- Support – Introducing your evidence (information on your example), and analysis of the information, explaining how it contributes to the chapter’s overarching theme.
- Analysis – Image analysis should address form and content analyses.
- add pictures
Chapter 7 Timeline: 1400 – 1590
Choose one of the criteria below. Note that anything you pick from one column, can overlap with the
other columns (e.g., ), but you must start with one item from one column as your focus. You can also use
the question
1. An individual (artist, humanist, political or religious figure from the period)
2. A work of art or architecture (*preferably lesser-known works)
3. An event (rediscovery of works from antiquity, plague, . . .) or location
Prominent Individuals Works of Art or Architecture Key Terms Locations or Events
Ibn al-Haytham Book of Optics (Perspectiva) 1011-1021* Camera obscura Basra, Iraq
Carlo Crivelli The Annunciation with St. Emidius, 1486 Linear perspective Venice
Sandor Botticelli The Adoration of the Child, 1500 Atmospheric Florence(?)
Hans Holbein The Ambassadors, 1533 symbolism Northern
Titian Jacopo Pesaro Presented to St. Peter, 1503 perspective Venice
Benozzo Gozzoli The Feast of Herod and the Beheading of St. John Non-linear Narrative Florence
Masolino St. Peter Healing a Cripple and the Raising of Tabitha Non-linear Narrative Florence
Benvenuto di Giovanni Crucifixion, 1491 (?) visual experience
Parmigianino Portrait of a Man, before 1524 Humanist collector
Giorgio Vasari Portrait of Lorenzo de Medici, 1534 symbolism
Hans Holbein Portrait of Erasmus, 1523 symbolism Northern
Lorenzo Lotto Portrait of Andrea Odoni, 1527 Humanist collector Venice
Fra Angelico San Marco Altarpiece, 1438-1440 Linear perspective Florence
Fra Angelico Annunciation, c. 1432-34 Linear perspective Cortona
Fra Angelico Mocking of Christ with the Virgin and St. Dominic unconventional Florence
Filippo Lippi Feast of Herod, 1452-66 Datini Coat of Arms Florence
Paolo Uccello Battle of San Romano, 1440s (from the Louvre) right
panel
Linear perspective
Paolo Uccello Battle of San Romano, 1440s (from Uffizi Gallery)
middle panel
Linear perspective
Paolo Uccello Battle of San Romano, 1440s (from the National Gallery)
left panel
Linear perspective
Giovanni di Paolo St. John the Baptist’s Life Cycle, 1454 Oblique perspective Siena
*This entry comes from the Middle Ages but is relevant to the Renaissance.
Research material on your chosen criterion/focus for a short paper (600-750 words), by focusing on a
single example (e.g., a specific work of art, a particular figure’s specific influence/role, etc.). Keep the
thesis from the introduction lecture in mind. Your paper should support or refute the thesis (support the
argument or effectively counter argue).
Your paper should include the following:
1. A brief introductory paragraph that lays out the context and what you are planning to write
about (e.g., “I will demonstrate, through [your specific example] that [your argument for or
against the main thesis from the introduction].”)
2. Introducing your evidence (information on your example), and analysis of the information,
explaining how it contributes to the chapter.
