Venice in Renaissance Venetian art was long shaped by its unique setting, distinctive political structure, and  a collective identity enforced by its patrician leaders.  In this course, we will engage in a close consideration of the socio-political conditions that both reinforced tradition and ultimately made way for a "golden age" in Venetian painting, sculpture, and architecture.  Topics will include individual artists, such as Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, and Palladio, as well as artistic training and workshop practice, patronage, and the rise of Venetian humanism.

Awe What is the place of awe in contemporary experience? In our fractious and turbo-charged world, what are the objects and experiences that still have the power to bring us up short, leaving us slack-jawed and spellbound? This seminar will engage these questions in conjunction with the opening of the exhibit, "An Invitation to Awe", at the Middlebury College Museum of Art . Grounding our conversation in early literary and artistic explorations of the sublime, we will also consider awe through the lenses of religion, scientific discovery, creativity, and the natural world. Definitions of awe almost invariably include references to fear, dread, even terror, so readings and class discussions will move well beyond the celebratory and reverential. There are no prerequisites for this course, and students from a wide range of majors and fields of interest are encouraged to enroll.

Leonardo da Vinci: The Original Renaissance Man? Famed for paintings such as The Last Supper and Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci was a dedicated observer and a prolific journal writer. His notebooks reflect an insatiable appetite for learning, and a mind equally engaged by engineering and sculpture, hydraulics and oil paint, religious faith and human nature. By reading Leonardo’s writing and by examining his commissions—both complete and unfinished—we will explore how this single artist came to define our understanding of a “Renaissance man.” More recent scholarship will spark robust discussions of how best to understand the “afterlife” of an artist and his work and whether the moniker of Renaissance man is, in fact, apt.

Italian Renaissance Art: 1350-1550 This course will focus on the art produced in Italy during the late fourteenth through the early sixteenth centuries. In addition to studying the chronological development of painting, sculpture, and architecture, we will consider such issues as artistic training, patronage, domestic life, and the literary achievements of this period of "rebirth." Focusing on urban environments such as Florence, Siena, Padua, Venice, Rome, and Urbino, we will give special attention to the manner in which artistic production was shaped by place.

The Renaissance Artist at Work In this course we will explore the role and practice of the Italian Renaissance artist. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and hands-on studios, students will learn about the distinctive forms of training and tradition that all 15th century artists followed, from the now anonymous to celebrities such as Leonardo and Michelangelo. The professions of painter and sculptor were shaped by strict expectations that extended from who could practice to what constituted an apprenticeship. Once weekly, we will create our own (more inclusive) Renaissance studio. Working with a local expert, we will learn to make charcoal and silver point drawings, pounce a cartoon, make small tempera and oil paintings, and even try our hand at fresco technique.

Senior Thesis: Research and Writing This course is a continuation of HARC 0710 which consists of ongoing, supervised independent research, plus organizing, writing and presenting a senior thesis. (HARC 0301 and HARC 0710).

An Introduction to Global Visual Culture This course is an introduction to the visual cultures of the world, with an emphasis on how images, objects, and monuments are made, experienced, exchanged, and used by groups of people with diverse religious, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds. We will focus on themes that have been taken up by different cultures and adapted over time, such as monumentality, the sacred, embodiment, science, and technology. Through a close study of these themes, we will consider how materials, cultures, and histories are transformed and negotiated through making and viewing works of art. In the process, we will challenge the art historical canon by shedding light on marginalized periods, regions, and artworks.

Senior Thesis Research Seminar In this course students will conceive, undertake research, and plan the organization of their senior thesis in art history or senior museum studies projects.  Seminar discussions and workshops will focus on research strategies, conventions in art historical writing, project design, and public presentation skills. (HARC 0301; Approval Required) 3 hr. sem.

Leonardo da Vinci and the Invention of Artistic Genius Famed for paintings such as The Last Supper and Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci was a dedicated observer and a prolific journal writer. His notebooks reflect an insatiable appetite for learning, and a mind equally engaged by engineering and sculpture, hydraulics and oil paint, human nature and faith.  By reading Leonardo’s writing and by examining his commissions, we will explore how this single artist came to define our understanding of artistic genius. More recent scholarship will spark robust discussions of how to best understand the “afterlife” of an artist and his work. 3 hrs sem.

Katy Smith Abbott

Reviews and ratings for Katy Smith Abbott at Middlebury College.Katy Smith Abbott teaches Venice in the Renaissance, Awe, Leonardo da Vinci and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Katy Smith Abbott good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Take this course. Prof. Smith Abbott is very lively and makes you want to engage with the material. At the beginning of the semester, we do a "reenactment" of history and everyone gets assigned a character from the Renaissance. I felt that it has brought me closer to my peers, my professor, and allowed me to get a better understanding of the course as a whole. 

I enjoyed this class a lot. We participated in a interacted role playing game in the beginning of the semester. Not a lot of work. Some readings to give background on lectures. One paper. 2 "big" quizzes but there is clear instruction on what will show up on the quiz. Professor is very engaging and you can tell she loves what she is teaching. Very happy and interactive professor. 

KSA is actually the best, love her as a person and a professor. Really puts in the effort and was a collaborative experience. Interesting and fairly easy class, just required to put in effort and fulfill deadlines, then you will get an A. 