Art in medieval Italy: the Kingdom of Lombardy and its impact
Time: 10:30 - 12:30
Location: Online
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
- Course Code: VB159
- Dates: 02/05/25 - 30/05/25
- Time: 10:30 - 12:30
- Taught: Fri, Daytime
- Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Simone Chisena
Course Code: VB159
Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Originally an obscure Germanic tribe settled on the southern shores of the Baltic, the Lombards shrewdly exploited the chaos following the fall of the Western Roman Empire to migrate across Europe and settle in Italy, uniting it almost entirely under their control and becoming the first to claim the title of “Kings of Italy”, a reign that was to last for nearly three hundred years. In this course, we will look at the artistic testimonies left behind by these people of mighty warriors, excellent builders of churches and fortifications and accomplished sculptors and goldsmiths. The course will follow the stops included in the UNESCO Trail Longobards in Italy: Places of Power (568–774 A.D.).
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
-Timeline of Lombardic History.
-Pavia, the capital of the kingdom.
-The Langobardia Maior: Cividale del Friuli
-The Langobardia Maior: Brescia and Castelseprio.
-The Langobardia Minor: Spoleto and Campello sul Clitunno.
-The Langobardia Minor: Benevento and Monte Sant’angelo.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
-Have a good knowledge of the main events in Lombardic history.
-List the major locations of the Lombardic presence in Italy.
-Identify the forms of Lombardic art.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and instructions. You should be able to operate the basic elements of Zoom software, like usage of microphone and camera.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course; these handouts will be available online/digitally for download from a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join this course’s Google Classroom a week before the first session.
You will be invited to join a Google Classroom to supplement the course where documents will be shared and stored. You will receive an invitation to join this Google Classroom within a week of the course start date.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Origins of the Italian Renaissance: The Primitivi
Between Greece and Rome: Etruscan Art.
Simone Chisena gained a BA in Classics (dissertation on Greek Vascular Painting) from the University of Pavia and an MSc in Archaeology (dissertation on anthropomorphic menhirs from the Alps) from the University of Rome "La Sapienza". After moving to the UK, his research has focused on prehistoric art of the Upper Palaeolithic (35k-10k years ago), on which he is completing his PhD at the University of York. Alongside teaching for the University of York's Department of Archaeology, he has taught courses on prehistoric art at the Centre for Lifelong Learning and, since 2022, at CityLit. A natural eclectic, his current research focuses on the transmission of artistic skills in European prehistory, but he has not forgotten his Classics background and has never stopped cultivating his interests in Ancient Greek and Roman art.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.