A selected topic in the history of art will be examined. NOTE: Field trips are mandatory for this class.

In Rome, this course focuses on Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the most revered Italian artists of the seventeenth century. Her paintings are more impressive when we consider the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated profession. Interest in Artemisia has gained momentum over time as she has shown, in her own words, “what a woman can do”, making her an ideal subject for narratives on women, art, and society. The course makes use of Artemisia’s paintings as well as the strong literature analysis of her life and work. Students learn to critically assess these analyses and to construct a personal perspective on the role of critical literature and gender. This course includes an academic excursion outside of Rome. The destination will be announced in the course schedule.