VART 481 – Drawing Florence: Putting Things in Perspective
Discipline(s): Fine Arts
Credits: 3
Instructor: Tiziano Lucchesi, M.F.A.
Description
The course is designed for a Summer Program consisting of 6 weeks, with 2 classes of 3 hours and 30 minutes each per week and site visits. The aim of the course is to learn to draw objects in perspective and use architectural perspective.
The first part of the course will be in studio. Students will learn the theory of perspective according to the rules of geometric design developed in the Renaissance, esp. in Florence by Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti. Theory will be accompanied by practical demonstrations on the board and video screenings of famous works of ancient and contemporary trompe l’oeil. In doing so, this technique’s full potential will stand out and different methodologies to elaborate perspective will be discussed.
Afterwards, students will begin practicing what they learn by making sketches (in the studio and at home) of objects viewed from different angles. Once they have acquired some mastery of perspective drawing, we will proceed to focus on urban spaces. First, they will visit the most architecturally significant areas of the city center. After identifying the most interesting subjects (alleys, building facades, squares, aerial views, from the bottom up etc.) students will have on-site exercise sessions of approximately 2 hours each. At this stage, students can rely on photographs to better elaborate perspective. Their drawings will be in black and white, making use of different kinds of pencils, charcoal, chalk, and paper.
In the latter part of the course, the paper will be shifted to a suitable thickness to accommodate colors. The latter will in turn be prepared by using recipes taken from the best-known Renaissance handbooks.
The final project will be the color drawing of an architectural subject from the city of Florence.
Textbooks
During orientation at the Institute, students will receive a list of textbooks and/or course readers they are required to purchase. Students should not purchase any texts before orientation.
Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.