Art History Final Paper

The final paper asks each student to select and explore one work of art from the following list (page numbers correspond with Campbell and Cole’s Italian Renaissance Art):

– Pisanello, Tournament Scene, ca. 1439-1442, Palazzo Ducale, Mantua (p. 113-114)
– Donatello, David (bronze), ca. 1440-1443, Florence (p. 150-152)
– Antonello da Messina, Annunciate Virgin, ca. 1476, Palermo (p. 241-242)
– Leonardo da Vinci, Ginevra de’ Benci, ca. 1478-1480, Washington DC (p. 250-251)
– Donato Bramante, designs for New St Peter’s Basilica, 1505, Rome (p. 343-346)
– Raphael, Galatea, 1512, Villa Farnesina (formerly Villa Chigi), Rome (p. 372)
– Titian, Virgin and Child with Saints (Pesaro Altarpiece), 1526, Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice (p. 431)
– Agnolo Bronzino, Allegory, ca. 1545, London (p. 475-476)
– Sofonisba Anguissola, Bernardino Campi Painting Sofonisba Anguissola, late 1550s, Siena (p. 513-516)
– Giambologna (Giovanni Bologna), Rape (Abduction) of the Sabine, 1582, Florence (p. 606)

After selecting a work of art, each student must find two scholarly sources that address the object and artist. Sources must come from peer-reviewed journals or book publications from the last 35 years (from 1980 to the present). Book reviews, Wikipedia pages, and online art or travel blogs are not acceptable sources.

Format: All of the potential paper topics above confront the course theme “Identity and Self-Fashioning”, be it personal or communal. The final paper should combine visual analysis with an explanation of both accompanying scholarly sources.

One’s personal analysis should address the following questions:

– What is the subject of the work of art?
– For what purpose was the work of art made?
– What is the intended message to the viewer?

Does this viewer have a specific identity? With regard to the scholarly approaches to your chosen work of art, consider the following:

– What is the central argument of each author?
– How does each scholar approach the issue of identity and/or self-fashioning?
– What evidence is provided in each text in support of the author’s argument?
– Do the authors’ arguments coincide? How do they differ?
– Do you find the arguments proposed compelling?

Why or why not? As you compose your response, consider the course material discussed throughout the quarter in readings and lectures. Identify at least one assigned work of art and one course reading in your analysis to strengthen your argument.

Use the questions provided as a general outline for your response. The final paper should be four to five pages in length, double-spaced, size 12 font, with proper bibliographic citation in footnotes or endnotes, and a bibliography (Chicago Style preferred). Citations are not counted towards the five-page total. Identify sources by their author and artworks by the artist (if known) and subject matter in the body of your text. You may also include images at the end of your paper to further clarify your argument (also not counted towards the five-page total). A rubric will be provided prior to the paper due date to further guide you in writing your paper. Please attach the rubric (not filled out) as the cover sheet of your paper upon submission.