History of Art

What is History of Art?

History of Art enables you to explore many aspects of art and architecture from around the world. You learn how to analyse and interpret architecture, painting and sculpture within its historical and artistic context. It is a multi-disciplinary subject which involves utilising aspects from many subjects such as History, English, Geography, Politics etc. It also looks at wider issues such as gender, ethnicity, patriarchy, social class and religion, and the changing nature of these issues through time.

What will I study?

In developing the skills of analysis and interpretation, you will look at a wide range of examples of art and architecture drawn from Ancient Greece right through to the present day.

You will study two themes – Identities and Nature. These themes enable you to look at developments in art and to make connections between movements and periods across time and place, it includes the study of key artists and architects such as Turner, Van Gogh & Sir Christopher Wren.

You will also study two specific historical periods in depth – Renaissance art in Italy 1420–1520, and British and French art of the late 19th century. This will include in depth study of these societies at the time and the study of artists and architects such as Raphael, Michelangelo, and William Morris, Renoir & Monet in the 19th century.

Assessments

There are two 3-hour exams – Paper 1 has questions on Visual Analysis, Nature and Identities. Paper 2 has questions on the Renaissance and British and French Art in the late 19^th century.

Trips, visits and enrichments:

Recent and previous visits have been to museums and art galleries (such as the National Gallery and British Museum), manor houses and stately homes.

What can it lead to?

History of Art is a popular subject to study at universities such as Edinburgh, Cambridge, St Andrews, Oxford, Warwick & Birmingham. Some students have gone into careers directly related to the subject, in areas such as curatorship in Museums and Art Galleries, Heritage management, Conservation, Academia, Architecture etc. In organisations such as the National Trust, English Heritage and local government. However, other students have moved into careers indirectly related to History of Art, in areas such as the Media, PR, Journalism, Civil Service, teaching etc.