Course information Museum Studies (MSST) 205: Science and the Detection of Art Forgeries Spring 2002 Tuesday/Thursday 11:00-12:15 216 MacDowell Hall Instructor Information Chandra Reedy is a Professor in the Museum Studies Program, Director of the Ph.D. Program in Art Conservation Research, and a senior staff member in the Center for Historic Architecture and Design. She also teaches Asian art history courses. Prior to joining the University of Delaware faculty, she was a conservation scientist at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where she participated in numerous authenticity studies. She still does occasional consulting identifying art forgeries for institutions such as the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. Course Description Museum Studies/Art History (MSST/ARTH) 205: Science and the Detection of Art Forgeries: Through the use of a series of case studies, we will explore some basic scientific principles useful in the investigation of known or alleged art forgeries. Three major case studies will be examined in detail: the Getty kouros, an ancient Greek (?) marble sculpture; the Shroud of Turin; and the Han van Meegeren forgeries of Vermeer paintings. Shorter additional examples will include forgeries of ceramic sculptures and vessels, ancient metal sculptures and vessels, silver, and gold jewelry. Science content will include topics such as matter and interactions in nature, as with the composition and dynamics of the atom, or the properties of the nucleus. We will then discuss analytical techniques which use these scientific principles for the investigation of the authenticity of works of art. We will also explore the technological processes through which art objects are made, and the basic materials science which impacts on the object's appearance, function, and deterioration. Although the primary focus of the course is the science content and the scientific approach to authenticity studies, we will include some discussion of related legal, philosophical, ethical, historical, and art historical issues. Science content will be learned as needed in forgery investigations. Students will approach each case study as if they are charged with undertaking an actual scientific investigation for an institutional Board of Trustees, presenting all evidence, and arguing whether the preponderance of evidence is for or against authenticity. The course will include lectures, readings, in-class discussion, on-line discussion, small group work, on-line work, three group-written reports, and a group oral presentation. Active participation in all components is required. Course Objectives A major goal of this course is to provide a humanities-oriented forum for the study of a variety of basic scientific principles and analytical techniques. The course is intended to serve primarily students in the arts and humanities who have had little or no science background or affinity. Information and analytical techniques from chemistry, materials science, and geology will be applied to understanding and interpreting works of art. Scientific analysis provides information on the composition, structure, and physical properties of objects; it can help us identify how, when, and where objects were made, and how they might have been used; it can also provide insights into aesthetic intent. This information derived from scientific analysis often supports or refutes charges of art forgery. Course Requirements Students are expected to attend all class sessions, and to complete all required readings. Each student will be placed in a small working group of approximately 5 students. These groups will serve as the teams investigating the three major case studies of the course. For each case, all groups will be required to hand in a written "position paper" summarizing the scientific evidence for and against authenticity, and indicating whether the preponderance of evidence supports or refutes authenticity. Each group will also be required to give one oral presentation for a case. Although there will be short group meetings during class time, and groups are free to meet in person outside of class, much of the group work will involve on-line discussion of background material and data on the course web site. All group members are expected to participate in the discussion and to contribute significantly to the group written reports and oral presentation. Required readings will be discussed in class, and all students are expected to be prepared to participate in those discussions in an informed manner.