After analyzing the current state of medieval research presented in
Herbert Kessler’s Seeing Medieval Art (2005), the seminar will focus
on power politics between the Papacy and Constantine to Charlemagne,
how medieval persons viewed art produced in Rome, how this  art was
made, who paid  for it, how it was used, why it was necessary for
social activities, including civic processions, and missionary work,
as well as to church buildings, palaces, the book, icons.  Knowledge
of Italian or German or medieval Latin or perhaps French (but
definitely not Spanish) is essential.