Aims

At the end of this course, the student will be able to identify the primary materials used for material and artistic production in Antiquity and to reconstruct the techniques used in the creation process.

Main themes

The course is an introduction to Ancient technology, providing the means to recognize the techniques used. This is done through identification of the traces of used tools and with the help of authors and finished art works from Antiquity. The objective is a better understanding of Ancient terminology and a discovering of the environment in which artists and craftsmen operated.

Content and teaching methods

We will mainly study the material aspects of the different techniques used in Antiquity. First, we will study primary materials - stone, clay, metal, etc. - as well as the tools and the sequence of processes (operating chain) used to modify the original aspect of this material. Then we will look at the variations in form and decoration which had material consequences. The social repercussions of these technologies on the societies that produced them will also be analysed.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Extra information :
Oral examination.
Course book and illustrations. Visits to Belgian art galleries, university collections.

Other credits in programs