Concentration on specific problems or works in a particular area of art history. Assigned readings, discussion, and a substantial paper. For specific topics and enrollment, see listings outside 416 Doe Library.

How do we trace the life history of objects from the past? The history of ownership of art and artifacts is often a challenging story to reconstruct, but vital to the overall biography of an object. This class will have a unique opportunity to study Etruscan artifacts in the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum. Students will research an artifact and reconstruct its biography, tracing its ownership, find spot (provenience) and provenance (interdisciplinary research that outlines the ownership of an object from its creation to the present). As part of this seminar, students will employ a new research protocol specific to Mediterranean antiquities outlined by MAPRA (Mediterranean Antiquities Provenance Research Alliance). Student research will contribute to the longer-term project of uncovering the history of the collection which will be incorporated in the permanent records at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum. Student’s work will culminate in a small Etruscan exhibit at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum at the end of the semester! This course fulfills the following Major requirements: Geographical area (A), and Chronological period (I) or (II) or (III), based on the topic of the final research paper or project.

Repeat Rules