Select an artwork, building or craft object from the Renaissance or the Baroque, then write a 1,000 word historical analysis of it that incorporates responses to these questions:

Instructions

Select an artwork, building or craft object from the Renaissance or the Baroque, then write a 1,000 word historical analysis of it that incorporates responses to these questions:

Who made it? (If this is known)
When was it made? (As accurately as this can be determined)
What materials is it made of?
What are its dimensions? (width and height for painting; width, height and depth for sculptures and some craft objects; sometimes height only for craft objects that have a complicated shape; no dimensions needed in the case of buildings)
What visual features of the object suggest that it was made in the Renaissance or the Baroque?
What was its likely function at the time that it was made? (To answer this question, think about who commissioned your chosen object and why. Think also about the period it was made in and how artworks, architecture and craft objects were used at that time.)

Format your assessment as a short essay. Dont use bullet points or divide your text into separate sections responding to each question.

In addition to drawing on material that’s been covered so far in lectures, tutorials and required readings, you must cite at least two further ‘high quality’ sources. For the purposes of this assessment, any book, article, database entry or encyclopedia entry accessible through the Monash Library catalogue counts as a high quality source. All other sources, regardless of their origin, are considered low quality. You will lose marks for citing low quality sources.

Your analysis must include footnotes (in Chicago ‘Notes-Bibliography’ style) and a bibliography of all sources referenced in your footnotes. Each of your bibliography entries must contain a link showing where the source can be accessed in the Monash library catalogue. The library’s guide to Chicago style referencing is available here.

The library will be running workshops to help you do this correctly and will also make academic research and writing learning modules available on Moodle. You are strongly encouraged to use both of these resources. (Dates and details of the workshops will be announced on Moodle and in class.)

Your submission must include an image of your chosen object with a caption below it, stating its maker (if this is known), its title (if it has one), the materials it is made from, and its date of creation (e.g. Michelangelo, The Last Judgement, fresco, 153641; or Creator Unknown, Silver Chalice with Inlaid Gold Chasing, silver and gold, late 1600s). (Please note that we don’t mind where you source your images and you don’t need to provide this information with your assessment.)

The word count does not include your footnotes or bibliography.

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