The Courtauld: an introduction

What is the course about?

The gallery was founded in 1932 as part of the Courtauld Institute of Art. A collection of collections, at its core are those of Viscount Lee of Fareham and Samuel Courtauld. A further significant bequest came from Victorian collector of medieval and Renaissance fine and decorative art, Thomas Gambier Parry. The collection has been housed at Somerset House since 1989 and has recently been redisplayed after an extensive refurbishment. Over two weeks, we will be able to explore the full range of the collection, key artists will include Early Renaissance master Robert Campin, Sir Peter Paul Rubens, Thomas Gainsborough and in the twentieth century, Amedeo Modigliani and Ben Nicholson An area of particular focus will be the outstanding collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings by artists including Manet, Monet, Morisot and Cezanne.

What will we cover?

The characteristics of different painting styles across Europe through time

The changing cultural and historical context within which the art was produced

The passions and motivations of the different collectors whose collections form the Courtauld collection today.

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

Identify the range of works of art at the Courtauld Gallery

Participate in discussions around art with increased confidence

Explain something of the chronological development of art across time.

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?

The course will be taught with a mixture of gallery-based lecture, group discussion and interactive group activities. Handouts will be provided by your tutor, made available digitally on Google Classroom to support your learning on the course. You will be emailed an invitation to the Google Classroom within one week of the course start date. There will be a short break during the session each week.

Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space.

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

The course fee does not include the museum admittance fees. This will be made separately, by the student, before the course is scheduled to begin. You will be sent an email prompting you to book your museum space within a week of the start date. The museum fees will not exceed £25. If are an Art Fund member, admission is free, but you must still book a space.

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

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

London's smaller art collections
London's smaller galleries: Leighton House
An Introduction to the Wallace Collection.