Scented visions: perfume in art

Explore the role of perfume in art from 1860 to 1905. We will consider scientific and popular ideas about scent, memory and the visual imagination and demonstrate their influence upon the arts from painting to performance.

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Key course information

Date
06/05/12

Day(s)
Sun

Duration
1 week

Time
10:30 - 16:30

Fees
Full fee: £44^NC

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
VB178

Availability
This date is full

^NC: No concessionary fees available as there is no government funding for this course.

This course is full

Occasionally places may become available. You can add yourself to the waiting list.

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Course outline

What is the course about?

Session 1: Picturing Perfume
In this introductory class, we will explore the nineteenth-century interest in the visual representation of the invisible sense of smell from academic paintings to art nouveau jewellery and perfume advertisements. In particular, paintings by artists such as John William Waterhouse, Charles Courtney Curran and John Singer Sargent will be analysed in the context of nineteenth-century ideas about odour, femininity, sexuality and disease. The day will be rounded off by a visit to the National Portrait Gallery to discuss the connotations of floral fragrance in G. F. Watts’s 'Choosing', a well-known portrait of the Victorian actress Ellen Terry.

Session 2: Perfume and Performance
In this second class we will consider the role of perfume in nineteenth-century performance art. In particular, we will study the perfume concerts of Sadakichi Hartmann in New York, c.1902, including his 'A Trip to Japan in Sixteen Minutes', in which scents released into the auditorium were intended to inspire visions of the countries passed through en route to the Far East. In addition, we will study the American pioneer of modern dance, Ruth St. Denis, who rippled her body to evoke the scent of incense. Both works will give an insight into the popular nineteenth-century metaphor of the perfumed Orient.

What topics will we cover?

This course will examine nineteenth-century ideas about perfume and the sense of smell and will reveal how these ideas influenced the making of art and its reception. Key themes include the relationship between perfume, memory, female sexuality, spiritualism and the idea of the Orient.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

- Interpret a wide range of nineteenth-century scent-evocative images and performances.
- Understand the conflicting Victorian notions of perfume as elevated and base, spiritual and sensuous and the impact of such ideas on Victorian notions of beauty.
- Discuss some of the connotations of smell in art.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is open to all. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.

You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.

Please look at the rest of the course outline carefully to decide if you may benefit from support in your English and Maths skills to help you to take part fully in this class.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Classes will be taught through a mixture of tutor-led presentations and class discussion. There will also be some video-based work and first-hand viewing of a painting in the National Portrait Gallery.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

None.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2700

visualarts@citylit.ac.uk

Please email us for advice or call us during these times:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 9.00 -12.00 & 15:00-18:00

Thursdays - 9.00-12.00

Saturdays - 14.00-17.00

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.

Contact us

Visual arts

Tel: 020 7492 2700

visualarts@citylit.ac.uk

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