ANTHR 7231 - Fakes and the Authentic: Connoisseurship, Value, and Judgement

(crosslisted) ARKEO 7231

Fall. 4 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: A basic course in art history. Co-meets with ANTHR 4231/ARKEO 4231/ARTH 4231.

J. Henderson, A. Ritterhaus.

What is authenticity and why does it matter? Connoisseurship—the expertise required to make discerning judgments—involves assessments of quality,authenticity, historical and cultural significance, and many other issues. This course focuses on connoisseurship in the fine arts, archaeology, and ethnography in both academic contexts and the art world. Emphasis is on developing a nuanced understanding of authentication, at the core of the art market and an important determinant of relevant data for academic art historians and archaeologists. Topics include the role of authenticity in assigning value; looting and faking in relation to antiquities markets; technical analysis and forgery detection.