A History of Art

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No previous experience or qualifications are required for these courses and they do not form part of the assessment. The key component of the First Year curriculum is the Foundation Course and Core Course. The following is a suggested reading list: Isabella studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature & Language and Psychology. Throughout her undergraduate years, she took Art History as an additional subject and absolutely loved it. Building on from her art history knowledge that began in high school, art has always been a particular area of fascination for her. From learning about artworks previously unknown to her, or sharpening her existing understanding of specific works, the ability to continue learning within this interesting sphere excites her greatly. It explains concepts in easily understandable language, encouraging the reader to imagine what the people of that time period felt about the art covered in the chapter - not just to see it from our modern viewpoint. A book truly aimed at just about anybody that wants a succinct crash course in art history. As the title suggests, the book covers one hundred familiar and unusual paintings and breaks them down into individual details. The authors essentially decode what the artist was trying to say or communicate historically with the choices and details of their painting and describe it to the reader in an accessible way.

During the course you will study the critical approaches of past authors, many of whom offer inspiring views of the subject. Examples include: The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course. Written test This lively volume is ideal for the precocious high-schooler, the lazy collegian . . . and any adult who wishes for greater mastery of the subject. . . . Mullins leav[es] readers with an expansive, no-regrets appreciation of art and the human story.”—Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street Journal Students also have the opportunity to undertake a French, German or Italian for Art Historians course through the University’s Language Centre.

If you are an artist, then odds are, you have built up quite a collection of art history books during your training: books on techniques, materials, artists, art periods, theory, and more. What type of art history book will benefit you now that you are a professional? The best books for artists are those that challenge or re-examine conventional art historical ideas. John Fleming, Hugh Honour, Nikolaus Pevsner, The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture (several editions) Giorgio Vasari, Lives of the Artists, selected lives trans. by G. Bull, Penguin, 2 vols., 1965 & 1987

For courses starting on or after 1 August 2021, the UK government has confirmed that EU, other EEA, and Swiss Nationals will be eligible for student finance from the UK government if they have UK citizens’ rights (i.e. if they have pre-settled or settled status, or if they are an Irish citizen covered by the Common Travel Area arrangement). The support you can access from the government will depend on your residency status. Whether you enjoy touring galleries and art museums, or building your own art collection, odds are, you also like to get your art fix in book form. You do not want an art history textbook. There is instead an excellent selection of books on art and artists available for non-academic readers. These offer a combination of relevant information and interesting anecdotes by authors who are as enthusiastic about art as you are. Some of these books are lavishly illustrated, others have excellent written content.All colleges offer at least one further year of accommodation and some offer it for the entire duration of your degree. You may choose to take up the option to live in your college for the whole of your time at Oxford, or you might decide to arrange your own accommodation after your first year – perhaps because you want to live with friends from other colleges.

Students will also be introduced to the different critical approaches or 'methodologies' used in the discipline. For this we recommend the following as primers: What do you get when you pair a famous artist and a famous art critic and have them write a book? A poignant, educational, and colorful collaboration that dives deep into the minds of artists throughout time. Her focal points of interest in art history encompass profiling specific artists and art movements, as it is these areas where she is able to really dig deep into the rich narrative of the art world. Additionally, she particularly enjoys exploring the different artistic styles of the 20 th century, as well as the important impact that female artists have had on the development of art history. When a work of art or architecture excites you, try to analyse why it has this effect. The other essential preparation is to gain a firm grounding in iconography by improving your knowledge of the Bible and classical mythology. A good basic knowledge of European history is also extremely useful. The course does not require any specific prior knowledge of the History of Art, but you may like to read some of the following books before you start at Cambridge. SurveysIf you have studied at undergraduate level before and completed your course, you will be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification student (ELQ) and won’t be eligible to receive government or Oxford funding Some art historians even specialize in writing books about famous art historians. And then there are those who aim to turn everything we think we know about the history of art on its head. If you know nothing about art and would like to know more, we can help. Start with a book aimed at art enthusiasts that offers an overview of art periods. Choose one that is not too broad in its scope. Once you have a general idea of stylistic differences, find books by similar authors that describe how specific artworks are interpreted. This will provide a foundation on which you can build a fuller appreciation of art history. Teaching usually takes place in the department or in a college, as well as in one of the Oxford museums and galleries where tutors often lecture in front of actual works of art. Visits to exhibitions or historical buildings will also be part of the course.