In the period 1700-1850, figures such as William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and J. M. W. Turner emerged as leading figures in a newly ascendent British art tradition. This course explores British art of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century through key themes, including celebrity, satire, exploration, science, and social and industrial revolution.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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In the eighteenth century, British art came into its own. Artists of the calibre of William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and Joseph Wright of Derby established national and international reputations at a moment when Britain itself was becoming a dominant power in Europe. This course explores the connections between visual art in Britain and a number of key themes, including celebrity, the family, theatre and literary culture, rural nostalgia, graphic satire, Enlightenment science, and the impact of ‘revolution’ (both social and industrial). Another important topic will be how artists, including well-known figures such as Johann Zoffany, John Webber and William Hodges, supported British imperial and commercial ventures in India and the Pacific.
Towards the end of the course, we will study the emergence of Romantic figures like William Blake, Henry Fuseli and J. M. W. Turner. While our focus will be on major genres of painting such as portraiture, landscape and the depiction of everyday life, we will also look at architecture, print media, and visual materials connected to the production of knowledge. In addressing the colonial contexts for British art, this course contains content that some learners may find to be of a sensitive or challenging nature.
What will we cover?
• We will discuss how British artists established themselves on a European stage in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century.
• We will think about how art and visual culture responded to a world that was rapidly changing as a result of commercial, military and political forces.
• We will look at the emerging taste for genres such as landscape, portraiture and images of ‘celebrity’ in Britain.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
· Describe how artists responded to social and political change, giving 2 examples.
· List 3 important artists working within the British tradition in the period 1700-1850.
· Visually analyse 2 examples of British art covered in the course
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. You 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 taught with lectures, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. These handouts will be posted via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Britain and the world: art, travel and colonialism
Thomas Balfe is an art historian specialising in early modern (c.1550–c.1750) northern European easel painting and the graphic arts. His current research interests are in seventeenth-century animal, hunting, fable, and food still-life imagery, and in European visual responses to the Arctic and the Americas. His co-edited book about the written claims to lifelikeness in early modern art writing was published in 2019.
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.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/british-art-1700-18502575609British art: 1700-1850https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb202-1080.jpg239239GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world22851136117718891228511771136<p>In the period 1700-1850, figures such as William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and J. M. W. Turner emerged as leading figures in a newly ascendent British art tradition. This course explores British art of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century through key themes, including celebrity, satire, exploration, science, and social and industrial revolution.</p>003036334British art: 1700-1850239239https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb202-1080_2.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-10-09T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allOct 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB202239239British art: 1700-1850191155239Thomas Balfebritish-art-1700-1850/vb202-2627<p>In the period 1700-1850, figures such as William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and J. M. W. Turner emerged as leading figures in a newly ascendent British art tradition. This course explores British art of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century through key themes, including celebrity, satire, exploration, science, and social and industrial revolution.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-09 00:00:00<p>In the eighteenth century, British art came into its own. Artists of the calibre of William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and Joseph Wright of Derby established national and international reputations at a moment when Britain itself was becoming a dominant power in Europe. This course explores the connections between visual art in Britain and a number of key themes, including celebrity, the family, theatre and literary culture, rural nostalgia, graphic satire, Enlightenment science, and the impact of ‘revolution’ (both social and industrial). Another important topic will be how artists, including well-known figures such as Johann Zoffany, John Webber and William Hodges, supported British imperial and commercial ventures in India and the Pacific.</p><p>Towards the end of the course, we will study the emergence of Romantic figures like William Blake, Henry Fuseli and J. M. W. Turner. While our focus will be on major genres of painting such as portraiture, landscape and the depiction of everyday life, we will also look at architecture, print media, and visual materials connected to the production of knowledge. In addressing the colonial contexts for British art, this course contains content that some learners may find to be of a sensitive or challenging nature.</p><p>In the period 1700-1850, figures such as William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and J. M. W. Turner emerged as leading figures in a newly ascendent British art tradition. This course explores British art of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century through key themes, including celebrity, satire, exploration, science, and social and industrial revolution.</p><p>• We will discuss how British artists established themselves on a European stage in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century.</p><p>• We will think about how art and visual culture responded to a world that was rapidly changing as a result of commercial, military and political forces.</p><p>• We will look at the emerging taste for genres such as landscape, portraiture and images of ‘celebrity’ in Britain.</p><p>· Describe how artists responded to social and political change, giving 2 examples.</p><p>· List 3 important artists working within the British tradition in the period 1700-1850.</p><p>· Visually analyse 2 examples of British art covered in the course</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels.</p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p><p>You will be taught with lectures, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. These handouts will be posted via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>Britain and the world: art, travel and colonialism</p><p>A stroll through British art</p><p></p>Art historyEarly modern worldvirtual191239155VB202NONEFri09/10/26 - 27/11/2611:00 - 13:0011:0013:008 sessions (over 8 weeks)85-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetThomas BalfeBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-10-09T00:00:00+00:00Oct 2026Culture, history & humanities239239British art: 1700-1850british-art-1700-1850/vb202-2627<p>In the period 1700-1850, figures such as William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and J. M. W. Turner emerged as leading figures in a newly ascendent British art tradition. This course explores British art of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century through key themes, including celebrity, satire, exploration, science, and social and industrial revolution.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-09 00:00:00<p>In the eighteenth century, British art came into its own. Artists of the calibre of William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and Joseph Wright of Derby established national and international reputations at a moment when Britain itself was becoming a dominant power in Europe. This course explores the connections between visual art in Britain and a number of key themes, including celebrity, the family, theatre and literary culture, rural nostalgia, graphic satire, Enlightenment science, and the impact of ‘revolution’ (both social and industrial). Another important topic will be how artists, including well-known figures such as Johann Zoffany, John Webber and William Hodges, supported British imperial and commercial ventures in India and the Pacific.</p><p>Towards the end of the course, we will study the emergence of Romantic figures like William Blake, Henry Fuseli and J. M. W. Turner. While our focus will be on major genres of painting such as portraiture, landscape and the depiction of everyday life, we will also look at architecture, print media, and visual materials connected to the production of knowledge. In addressing the colonial contexts for British art, this course contains content that some learners may find to be of a sensitive or challenging nature.</p><p>In the period 1700-1850, figures such as William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and J. M. W. Turner emerged as leading figures in a newly ascendent British art tradition. This course explores British art of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century through key themes, including celebrity, satire, exploration, science, and social and industrial revolution.</p><p>• We will discuss how British artists established themselves on a European stage in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century.</p><p>• We will think about how art and visual culture responded to a world that was rapidly changing as a result of commercial, military and political forces.</p><p>• We will look at the emerging taste for genres such as landscape, portraiture and images of ‘celebrity’ in Britain.</p><p>· Describe how artists responded to social and political change, giving 2 examples.</p><p>· List 3 important artists working within the British tradition in the period 1700-1850.</p><p>· Visually analyse 2 examples of British art covered in the course</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels.</p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p><p>You will be taught with lectures, slide presentations, activities and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. These handouts will be posted via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>Britain and the world: art, travel and colonialism</p><p>A stroll through British art</p><p></p>Art historyEarly modern worldconfigurable
18891136Early modern worldhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/early-modern-world1/2/285/1177/1136/18891/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world
