Introduction to Technical Art History

As material objects, works of art are corporeal testimonials of the culture that produced them. Technical Art History is a new and exciting interdisciplinary field, bridging traditional Art History and Art Conservation, that examines the materials and techniques used by artists for art historical inquiry. Close examination of the physical aspects of works of art enables scholars to gather data that are critical for a better understanding of a wide range of topics, such as when, where, why, and by whom an object was produced. Such research also provides unique insights into the genesis and the original function of an object, into the painter’s intentions and creative processes, and in later alterations to the work. Therefore, such research findings will often provide new information on the broader socio-economic structures within which works of art were produced, marketed, used, and conserved. Technical Art History can be performed on objects in different media, but this course will focus on paintings. Students will be introduced to different methods of examination using case studies ranging from Early Italian panel paintings, the Impressionists, and the abstract canvases by Piet Mondrian.