Introductory & General Art History Courses

Uncover hidden histories in art through the universal medium of drawing. Explore drawing’s significant role in shaping art and how artists including Leonardo, Rembrandt and Cezanne have been drawn to its expressive possibilities to make personal studies and autonomous works of art.

Join us for an introduction to the art, working process and political context of Neo-Impressionist Georges Seurat. We will examine the artist's history and how it was shaped by his anarchist peers. 

Discover some of the dramatic and life changing events in Westminster history through a series of National Portrait Gallery portraits ranging from Hans’s Holbein’s portrait of Henry VIII for Whitehall Palace to a more recent addition to the collection, a controversial portrait of suffragette Christabel Pankhurst by Ethel Wrigth. Many of the artists were Westminster based and if the sitters were not, their influence helped to change government policies.

Explore what art history is, why it matters, and how it’s changing. We explore ways to look at works of art and how to interpret them. We also examine key ideas in the history of art such as 'the masterpiece' and 'the canon'. The goal is to sharpen your art historical skills and learn how to think of art through the perspective of an art historian.

Explore the fascinating gods and heroes of classical and post-classical art through relevant artworks. How popular were they in classical society? What roles did they play?