Professor:Ernesto Livorni - Ph.D.
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This is most recent syllabus. Your final syllabus will be given during your first day of class
Note: This course was formerly LIAH 370.
Course Description
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) is the last great figure of Western history that masterfully fills the role of both artist and scientist. In light of this achievement, the course will discuss the artistic and scientific endeavors of Leonardo and the impact he had on the shaping of modernity. His legendary figure will be examined through the lens of 19th and 20th century thinkers such as John Ruskin, Walter Pater, Sigmund Freud, Paul Valéry, Gabriele D’Annunzio, all the way to 20th century Avant-garde and Pop Art.
Course Objectives
The course aims to explore the relationship between art and science in Leonardo’s oeuvre. It will provide insights into the master’s process of elaborating art from his scientific experiments and discoveries and how he cultivated scientific aspects in his artistic creations. Furthermore, Leonardo’s endeavors in painting and in the study of anatomy and physics will be analyzed in light of their impact in the centuries to come: the interpretations of some of the aforementioned thinkers and artists will be discussed in regard to specific aspects of Leonardo’s work.
The course will be supported with audio-visual material illustrating Leonardo da Vinci’s artistic and scientific achievements. Also included is a one-day field trip to Florence with a tour of the city and the main sites in which Leonardo’s art is displayed, notably the Uffizi Gallery.