A condensed history of sculpture: ten sculptors who’ve shaped art history

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Study sculptors from the Renaissance to the Post-Modern, including Donatello, Bernini, Canova, Rodin, Picasso and Whiteread, considering styles, materials, and techniques of key works within social and cultural contexts.
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  • Start Date: 27 Jun 2026
    End Date: 27 Jun 2026
    Sat (Daytime): 11:00 - 17:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 1 session
    Course Code: VB164
    Tutors:  Rachel Sanders
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
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In stock
SKU
239431
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00

What is the course about?

This one-day course will explore the history of Western sculpture through the analysis of key works by ten practitioners significant to the development of the discipline. We will consider formal qualities, materials and techniques, style and aims. We will also examine the social, political and artistic contexts of works.

What will we cover?

• Formal analysis, subject analysis, materials and processes.
• Artistic context, including academic priorities, the influence of the avant-garde, aspects of modernist sculptural practice (abstraction, expressionism etc.)
• Social, political, and cultural contexts.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Describe various materials and techniques employed by sculptors.
• Identify traditional and modern formal characteristics and subject matters within sculpture.
• Participate in discussions around the impact of social, political and cultural contexts on sculptural practice.

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

This course is suitable for all levels.

You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.

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

You will be with lecture, slide presentations and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.

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

You might wish to bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class.

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

The Victorians: art, architecture and design
Introduction to art history: form and materials.

Rachel Sanders

Dr Rachel Sanders received her MA and PhD in History of Art from University College, London. She has taught at a number of institutions and currently lectures on the history of art and design at City Lit and Oxford Brookes University. Her research interest is early twentieth-century American political paintings and cartoons. She has published a number of articles on her research specialism and is currently writing a book on New Masses magazine.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.