In-depth knowledge of Greek and Roman art, foundations of ancient history, and Greek and Latin language and literature will provide the main methods and tools for a deeper understanding of the subjects taught.

Each module includes 18 lectures of 90 minutes each, with slide show. During these meetings, students will be asked to present and discuss individual artefacts or contexts based on first-hand research.  The lectures will be held in Italian.

Information on the course, study materials, and instructions regarding the presentation will be available on the course page on Moodle, which students may access using their University credentials. The instructors will communicate with students using the Moodle blog.

The course addresses the principal questions about the chronology, geography, technology, economy, and anthropology of ancient Greek (module I) and Roman (module II) artistic production. The primary goals include a detailed knowledge of artistic production in Greece (module A) and in the Roman world from the Republican period to the Late imperial age (module B). 

Module A addresses the study of Attic black-figure and red-figure vase painting from the 6th century BC to the first half of the 5th century BC, through the case study of vases decorated with scenes from the Homeric tradition. The topics covered include: the history of studies and methods of analysis; techniques of production of Greek pottery in black-figure and red-figure styles; the organization of the potter's workshop and the role of the artist; the use of painted pottery and the dimension of the symposium; thematic choices for painted decoration (with particular reference to Homeric subjects); the relationship between figurative scenes and ornament; the historical, social, and political context. A visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Florence is planned, as well as a session of exercises involving direct reading of works at the Antiquarium of the University of Pisa.

Module B: the program covers the main chronological, geographical, technological, social, economic, and cultural aspects of the use of white and colored marble in the Roman world. The topics covered include: the introduction of marble in the late Republican age and its use during the Imperial age as an expression of privata luxuria (private luxury) on the one hand and of magnificentia publica (pu blic magnificence) in sacred and civil public architecture on the other; the administrative system of quarries; transportation and deposits at the ports of embarkation and those of Porto and Rome; marbles from the provinces; and distribution and marketing. A visit to the Marble Museum and the Roman quarry at Fossacava in Carrara is planned.

Participants will thus improve their skills in the analysis of artworks and monuments, as well as their abilities in the critical reading of scientific literature.

In addition to the textbooks, the mandatory program includes articles and chapters dedicated to individual objects and/or techniques, which the instructors will share with students using the Moodle platform. 

Module A

Textbook (mandatory):

Boardman John 2001, The History of Greek Vases, Thames & Hudson, London.

In addition to the main text mentioned above, participants will have the opportunity to explore further readings focusing on specific objects and technologies related to individual research. These supplementary readings, considered a mandatory part of the exam, will be discussed in class.

Additional (non mandatory) readings: 

Bejor Giorgio et alii 2012, Botteghe e artigiani, Mondadori, Milano (Chapter: Nella bottega del vasaio greco)

Catoni Maria Luisa 2010, Bere vino puro: immagini del simposio, Feltrinelli, Milano.

Hurwit Jefferey 2015, Artists and Signatures in Ancient Greece, CUP, Cambridge, pp. 1-30, 71-96.

Lissarrague François 1999, Vases grecs: les Athéniens et leurs images, Hazan, Parigi (anche versione inglese: Greek vases: The Athenians and their images, Riverside Book Co., New York 2001).

Neer Richard T. 2002, Style and Politics in Athenian Vase-Painting. The Craft of Democracy, ca. 530-460 B.C.E., CUP, Cambridge.

Oakley John H. 2013, The Greek vase: Art of the storyteller, British Museum / The J. Paul Getty Museum, London / Los Angeles.

Osborne Robin 2018, The Transformation of Athens. Painted Pottery and the Creation of Classical Greece, Princeton University Press, Princeton / Oxford. 

Module B

Textbook (mandatory): 

Pensabene Patrizio 2002, Il fenomeno del marmo a Roma tra la fine della Repubblica e l'età imperiale, in De Nuccio Marilda, Ungaro Lucrezia (a cura di), I marmi colorati della Roma imperiale, Catalogo della mostra (Roma 2002-2003), Marsilio Editori, Venezia, pp. 3-67.

Bruno Matthias 2002, Considerazioni sulle cave, sui metodi di estrazione, di lavorazione e sui trasporti, in De Nuccio Marilda, Ungaro Lucrezia (a cura di), I marmi colorati della Roma imperiale, Catalogo della mostra (Roma 2002-2003), Marsilio Editori, Venezia, pp. 179-193.

Schneider Rolf Michael 2002, Nuove immagini del potere romano. Sculture in marmo colorato nell'impero romano, in De Nuccio Marilda, Ungaro Lucrezia (a cura di), I marmi colorati della Roma imperiale, Catalogo della mostra (Roma 2002-2003), Marsilio Editori, Venezia, pp. 83-105.

In addition to the main texts mentioned above, participants will have the opportunity to explore further readings focusing on specific objects and technologies related to individual research. These supplementary readings, considered a compulsory part of the exam, will be discussed and agreed upon during the lectures.

Non-mandatory follow-up readings:

for the use of colored marbles in the Imperial Fora and a collection of case studies of works of art and furnishings see the remaining parts of De Nuccio Marilda, Ungaro Lucrezia (a cura di), I marmi colorati della Roma imperiale, Catalogo della mostra (Roma 2002-2003), Marsilio Editori, Venezia;

for a repertory of marbles used in Roman times: Gabriele Borghini (a cura di) 1989, Marmi antichi, De Luca Edizioni d'Arte, Roma; Bonifati Valeria (a cura di) 2022, I colori dell'antico. Marmi Santarelli ai Musei Capitolini, Catalogo della mostra (Roma 2022-2023). Treccani, Roma;

Pensabene Patrizio 2013, I marmi nella Roma antica, Carocci, Roma;

Paribeni Emanuela, Simonetta Segenni (a cura di) 2015, Notae Lapicidinarum dalle cave di Carrara, Pisa University Press, Pisa.

This program applies to attending students only. Those who are unable to attend the course regularly are requested to follow the instructions provided below.

This program applies to attending students only. Those students who may not be able to attend classes regularly may follow the instructions provided below. 

Students are strongly encouraged to attend all classes. Those students who cannot attend should contact the instructor to define an alternative program and the topics for their written papers.

Attending students: short presentations and final colloquium. 

Non-attending students: oral examination with discussion of two written papers (one for module I and one for module II).

Study material for each module and details are available on the Moodle platform. Please check on Moodle for the beginning of the class and details.

For any question about the course and its program, students may contact the instructors during office hours. For office hours and details about the course schedule please check the instructors’ web page. https://www.cfs.unipi.it/dipartimento/persone.

Accepted languages for discussion, tests, exercises, presentations, written paper and oral exams are Italian, English, German and French.

EXAMINERS: Anna Anguissola (chair), Fabio Fabiani, Stefano Genovesi. SUBSTITUTE EXAMINERS: M. Letizia Gualandi (chair), Antonio Monticolo, Sara Lenzi