OSK/RU course Materials & Techniques in Early Netherlandish Painting, with a special focus on Jheronimus Bosch
Dates: April – May 2023, exact dates: see below
Time: 12:30hrs – 15:15hrs
Venue: Radboud University, Nijmegen
Open to: RMa students and PhD candidates
Credits: 5 EC
Instruction language: English
Convenor: prof. dr Ron Spronk (Queen’s University/Radboud University)
Coordination: OSK (osk-fgw@uva.nl)
Registration: Deadline for application for enrolment is February 15, 2023
Early Netherlandish paintings, as material objects, are complex layered structures that were produced with a broad range of materials in distinct stages. Methods of technical examination, such as X-radiography and infrared reflectography, often provide significant information about these objects and their production. This intensive course surveys how Netherlandish paintings were produced, and why this information can be of critical importance for art historians. Topics will include: the division of labour within a workshop, how to ‘read’ X-radiographs and infrared reflectograms, and how to interpret the results of dendrochronological analysis. The goal of the course is to provide graduate students the necessary toolset to critically read publications in the fast-emerging field of Technical Art History, with a special focus on the techniques applied by Jheronimus Bosch and his workshop. Although the painting examples used in this course will be limited to Netherlandish painting, many of these skills and concepts are applicable to other fields within the history of art.
The student will thus participate in the discourse on historical painting techniques, modern methods of conservation and restoration, and art historical and scientific methods of research. Students will be able to deliver presentations (both oral and written) in which he or she explains how to practice technical art history, and how to communicate the results of such examinations to a variety of audiences.
Taught by:
Prof. dr. Ron Spronk (RU/Queen’s University), member of the Bosch Research and Conservation Project. For more information, see: https://www.queensu.ca/art/spronk-ron.
This course is generously supported by the Jheronimus Bosch Art Center in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
Dates & Location:
Radboud University, Nijmegen – Exact location tba
12:30hrs – 15:15hrs
17, 19, 24, & 26 April, 2023
8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, & 31 May, 2023
Coordination:
Chantal Olijerhoek and Paul Koopman (osk-fgw@uva.nl).
Conditions:
Open to RMa students and PhD candidates Art and Architectural History, up to max. 6 participants. RMa students have precedence over PhD candidates. Students are required to do all readings (several of which in advance of the course) and to attend all seminars and lectures.
Main course components:
The course consists of introductions, lectures, and seminars with student presentations. It will be taught in English; papers and presentations must be delivered in English. Please note that because of the intensive nature of the course, several readings will have to be completed before the course commences. The readings will be announced by March 1, 2023.
Fees:
None.
Enrolment:
Register via the website and send an email to osk-fgw@uva.nl providing a CV, a short letter of motivation, and a statement that you are prepared to study several readings in advance to the start of the course. Application deadline: February 15, 2023.
Practicalities:
Participation in the OSK/RU course ‘Materials & Techniques in Early Netherlandish Painting’ is open to all students enrolled in a Research Master Program or PhD program at a Dutch University. The number of OSK participants is limited to 6 students. RMa students will have precedence over PhD candidates. Deadline for application is February 15, 2023. Students will be informed about admittance no later than February 25, 2023, and will receive their readings by March 1, 2023.
Credits:
5 EC, to receive after delivering a successful paper and participation. Students have to check with their home university themselves whether the transfer of credits for this course is accepted. OSK will provide a testimonial of workload and EC.