This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Figurative Arts of the 15th Century

Code: 104050 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Art History OT 3
Art History OT 4

Contact

Name:
Rafael Cornudella Carre
Email:
rafael.cornudella@uab.cat

Teachers

Daniel Rico Camps

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

None


Objectives and Contextualisation

Introduction to figurative arts the "International Style" and the "Northern Rennaisance"


Competences

    Art History
  • Critically analysing from the acquired knowledge a work of art in its many facets: formal values, iconographic significance, artistic techniques and procedures, elaboration process and reception mechanisms.
  • Interpreting a work of art in the context in which it was developed and relating it with other forms of cultural expression.
  • Recognising the evolution of the artistic imagery from the antiquity to the contemporary visual culture.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Accurately defining and explaining an artistic object with the specific language of art criticism.
  2. Analysing ideas about an artistic phenomenon in a given cultural context.
  3. Analysing the creators of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
  4. Analysing the recipients of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
  5. Applying the iconographic knowledge to the reading of artistic imagery.
  6. Connecting an artistic imagery with other cultural phenomena within its period.
  7. Distinguishing the elaboration techniques and processes of an artistic object.
  8. Examining an artistic imagery and distinguishing its formal, iconographic and symbolic values.
  9. Explaining the reception mechanisms of a work of art.
  10. Identifying the artistic imagery, placing it into its cultural context.
  11. Reconstructing the artistic outlook of a particular cultural context.

Content

1. Figurative Arts in France and the Netherlands during the "International Gothic" Period

1.1. Introduction. Europe around 1400. On the "International Gothic" style. The architectural spaces of Charles V and Charles VI of France and the princes of the royal lineage.

1.2. The renewal of sculpture during the reigns of Charles V and Charles VI of France. Parisian goldsmith around 1400. Netherlandish altarpieces. The expansion of French and Netherlandish sculpture to the south. Monumental Holy Burials.

1.3. Painting in its many forms. Illuminated manuscripts: luxury objects. The renewal of stained glass. Formats, themes, and uses of panel painting. Pictorial embroidery in France and the Netherlands. Large Flemish historiated tapestries and their export.

 

2. The Northern Renaissance: A Pictorial Revolution

2.1. The Founders: The Van Eyck Brothers and Robert Campin (Master of Flémalle)

2.2. The Second Generation: Rogier Van der Weyden, Petrus Christus, and Dirk Bouts

2.3. The Last Generations: Hugo Van der Goes and Hans Memling, Gerard David, and Hieronymus Bosch


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Directed 120 4.8 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 7, 8, 9, 11, 6
Type: Supervised      
Supervised 10 0.4 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 7, 8, 9, 11, 6
Type: Autonomous      
Autonomous 20 0.8 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 7, 8, 9, 11, 6

Master classes, class discussions and seminars, compulsory readings, individual exercises.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Compulsory Readings Control 20% 0 0 3, 4, 2, 10, 5, 1, 7, 8, 9, 11, 6
First written exercice 40% 0 0 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 7, 8, 9, 11, 6
Second written exercice 40% 0 0 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 7, 8, 9, 11, 6

First written exercice: theme 1

Second written exercice: theme 2

Compuslory readings control

 

To pass the cours, the student must add a minimum of 50% of the total score.

The student who does not pass the course and has a minimum final grade of 3.5 may take an exame in which he will be examined of the suspenden part.

Students will receive the grade of "Not evaluable" as long as they have not submitted more than 30% of the evaluation activities.

At the time of each evaluation activity, the teacher will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and date of revision of the grades.

 

Single evaluation: The single evaluation will consist of the same three pieces of evidence provided for in the continuous evaluation, with the same percentages.

Plagiarism: If the student commits any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation act, this evaluation act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instituted. In the event that various irregularities occur in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not allowed in any of its phases. Any work that includes fragments generated with AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and will result in the activity being evaluated with a 0 and not being able to recover, or major penalties in serious cases.


Bibliography

Bibliographies and required readings will be delivered at the beginning of the course.


Software

None


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed