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2025 Spring

PRAGUE ART AND ARCHITECTURE - ART131/3 Spring 2025


Course
Alena Foustkova
For information about registration please contact our admissions.

This course gives students an insightful orientation into the history of western art from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period through the architecture and art of Prague. The city is seen as a virtual openair museum and a life-size 3-D reading book; therefore the classroom lectures are combined with regular excursions throughout the city.

Here is the course outline:

Class 1 - Course syllabus, Lecture 1 + a short field trip

Feb 4 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Lecture 1 – Overview of the history and architectural styles in the classroom. Field trip after the lecture: Walk and talk about the history of the AAU location: Thurn-Taxis palace, Vojan gardens + The neighborhood. Description: See your closest surroundings and their historical importance. Reading: Review the pdf Lecture 1 in NEO. ! Homework: Watch the video on Gothic cathedrals, link in NEO – questions will be asked during the field trip of class 2 (Activity points awarded). Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 1 in NEO from the practical field trips + a discussion to submit and participate in NEO – in total 15 discussions = 45%, graded partially by 3% each week.

Class 2 - Field trip: Meeting in the AAU courtyard at 11:15 am SHARP!

Feb 11 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Romanesque and Gothic architecture Field trip, AAU courtyard at 11:25 pm SHARP Romanesque rotunda of Holy Cross + The Old Town: Bethlehem chapel, Old Town square, Astronomical clock tower, Tyn church, House at the minute (Kafka), Charles University, Ungelt. Review questions after the walk – activity points awarded. Description: The Rotunda is among the oldest preserved monuments in Prague. The walk will continue to the Old own of Prague. Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 2 – see the assignment dropbox in NEO.

Class 3 - Field trip: St. Agnes Monastery - Meeting first in the classroom

Feb 18 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Early Gothic art and architecture Field trip: St. Agnes monastery, Gothic monument + Gothic art collection Description: The earliest Gothic monastery in Bohemia + Gothic paintings / sculptures. Location: St. Agnes monastery, National Gallery Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 3 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox. Homework written assignment, DUE week 4 – Graded 10% Get familiar with the house signs in Nerudova street + other parts of Prague’s Old Town. Make research + Place the written assignment to NEO dropbox. Assignment description will be provided in the classroom before the field trip + to NEO, in week 3.

Class 4 - Renaissance + Mannerism Lectures + Discussion

Feb 8 11:15am .. 2pm

Lectures: Renaissance + Mannerism Reading: Review the pdf lectures in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Due – House signs from Nerudova street, DUE 10%, NEO Assignment dropbox Discussion 4 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

Class 5 - Lecture + a Field trip to the Charles Bridge

Mar 4 11:15am .. 2pm

Field trip, Meeting in the AAU courtyard:at 11:15 SHARP! - Make sure that you are on time!! Topic: The Charles Bridge, Museum of the Charles Bridge + a boat ride Description: Square of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star, Museum of the Charles bridge + a Boat ride on the Vltava river. Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 5 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

Class 6 - Field trip - Former Jewish town

Mar 11 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Field trip: The Jewish town AAU courtyard at 11:15 pm SHARP. Be on time. Description: Field trip to visit the area of the former Jewish ghetto/town – prepare for walking during the entire class / wear comfortable and warm shoes, dress warm! Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Discussion 6 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

Class 7 – Midterm written assignment DUE to NEO - 15%

Mar 18 11:15am .. 2pm

DUE to NEO: Midterm written assignment, 15%: Meeting in the courtyard at 11:15 pm SHARP Description: The Hradcany district + Lesser Town area walk. Description: We will explore the area of the upper Hradcany district with its hidden treasures and walk down the winding streets of the Lesser Town. Assignments: Discussion 7 to NEO

Class 8 - The Prague Castle

Apr 1 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: AAU courtyard at 11:15 pm SHARP! Field trip: Prague Castle - Description: The architectural styles of gothic, baroque, and classical styles – prepare for walking during most of the class. • Review questions after the walk from the video on the Gothic cathedrals from class 2 homework will be discussed – activity points awarded. Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 8 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

Class 9 - Field trip - Renaissance + Manneristic gardens

Apr 8 11:15am .. 2pm

Meeting in the AAU coutyard at 11:15 SHARP! Field trip to the Wallenstein garden and the Summer palace of Queen Anne + the Royal gardens. Description: Students will be able to see renaissance and mannerism style and the elements that make the style recognizable. Reading: Study the field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 9 – see the assignment dropbox in NEO.

Class 10 - Baroque + The Vrtba garden

Apr 15 11:15am .. 2pm

Lecture in class: Baroque After a field trip to the baroque gem, the Vrtba garden. Description: The walk will take us to a hidden gem among the Prague gardens, in the Lesser Town. The hidden Baroque treasure will show a great example of the genius of a local builder Kanka for Count Vrtba in the 17th century Prague. Do not miss this trip! Reading: Review the pdf lecture + the field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 10 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox. Homework:!Watch the provided video on Baroque – see in NEO

Class 11 Renaissance and baroque architecture, Lesser Town

Apr 22 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Renaissance and baroque architecture, Lesser Town Field trip to walk in the neighborhood from AAU – St. Thomas church, Lesser Town square, St. Nicolas church, church of Our Lady Victorious, Monument against communism, Kampa Island + visit of Museum Kampa (Modern art) Description: The walk will introduce the history and monuments close to AAU. The homework Video on Baroque homework will be discussed during the walk – activity points awarded. Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 11 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

Class 12 - Lecture + Field trip – The Old Masters, NG

Apr 29 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Renaissance and baroque architecture, Lesser Town Field trip to walk in the neighborhood from AAU – St. Thomas church, Lesser Town square, St. Nicolas church, church of Our Lady Victorious, Monument against communism, Kampa Island + visit of Museum Kampa (Modern art) Description: The walk will introduce the history and monuments close to AAU. The homework Video on Baroque homework will be discussed during the walk – activity points awarded. Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Assignments/deadlines: Discussion 11 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

Class 13 Field trip - The Industrial architecture

May 6 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Short lecture in class: 19th + 20th century art and architecture After a field trip: The Industrial style Description: Main train station, (Secession/Art Nouveau), Jerusalem synagogue, The Municipal house, Cubism – Czech version in architecture – Josef Gočár (House by the Black Madonna) Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Discussion 13 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

Class 14 - Field trip – Development of a functional architecture

May 13 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Field trip: 20th + 21st century art and architecture - Description: Development of a functional architecture independent from the decorative historical styles - visit of the National gallery – The Exhibition palace Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Discussion 14 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

Class 15 - Contemporary art and architecture

May 20 11:15am .. 2pm

Topic: Field trip: 20th + 21st century art and architecture - Description: Development of a functional architecture independent from the decorative historical styles - visit of the National gallery – The Exhibition palace Reading: Review the pdf field trip summary in NEO. Discussion 14 in NEO – see the assignment dropbox.

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