Introductory & General Art History Courses

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?

Get to know the work of the bad boy of the Victorian art world, James Abbott McNeill Whistler. This lunchtime lecture will introduce Whistler's art philosophy, art for art's sake, how it fitted in with the Decadence movement and how it railed against Arts and Crafts. We'll explore his artistic failures and what they teach us about what was expected of the proper Victorian artist.

An introduction to the history of Frida Kahlo's time and place, her social and political influences, specifically Indigenismo, and how this context shaped her depiction of self. 

Explore the first 150 years of photography, an art form that has changed our perception of the world. Learn about key artists, movements and theorists that have defined its history and shaped our contemporary reality.