Sicilian Mosaics: Roman and Norman

Course aim

This course will introduce students to the comprehensive mosaic heritage of Sicily. We shall look at the introduction of mosaic art, the fine Roman collection at Casale and the Norman/Byzantine works at Cefalu, Monreale and Palermo.

Do I need any particular skills or experience?

• You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• No skills or experience needed
• This course is suitable for beginners and improvers

By the end of the course I should be able to:

• Trace the geographical development of floor mosaics in the Eastern Mediterranean basin.
• Outline the technical development of mosaics.
• Show what the Norman wall mosaics were intended to do.
• Describe where the raw materials for the mosaics were sourced.
• Assess the Imperial significance of the Villa at Casale and its decoration.

How will I be taught?

• The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• This is a repeat course, mif you attended in 2020 pleas do not re-enroll again, leave places for new students.

What kind of feedback can I expect?

• You will be able to keep a digital portfolio of your work on WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas.
• Your tutor will provide written, text and audio feedback recorded in WEA Canvas, WEA’s digital learning platform.
• You will be able to keep a record of your progress and achievement using photos, audio, text or documents uploaded into the WEA’s digital learning platform, WEA Canvas.

What else do I need to know?

• What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• You will also need access to the internet outside of your sessions. You could do this using a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer (at home or through a library etc.).
• You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• It would be helpful if you had access to the internet (Mobile phone, tablet or computer at home or through a library etc.)

Pre-course work, reading and information sources

• You will have access to course resources and links to wider learning through the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• No pre reading is required but research on the subject on the internet or in the library may be helpful

What can I do next?

• Progress to another WEA course
• Progress to a course with another provider
• This course would prepare students for a visit to the cultural sites of Sicily. It will also provide an Art Historical view as well as being of Archaeological interest.