The Victorians: art, architecture and design
Time: 14:30 - 16:30
Location: Keeley Street
- Course Code: VB928
- Dates: 18/01/25 - 15/02/25
- Time: 14:30 - 16:30
- Taught: Sat, Daytime
- Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Rachel Sanders
Course Code: VB928
Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
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What is the course about?
The Victorian era was one of significant cultural achievement and distinctive identity, dominated by increased wealth, class divide, concerns about morality and eclectic tastes, all of which is evident in its artistic products. This course will study the paintings of the academy and the avant-garde, including the Pre-Raphaelites and the Aesthetic Movement. We will study public monuments and architecture, including the Gothic Revival Movement, alongside furniture and fashion design, fuelled by the Arts and Crafts Movement.
What will we cover?
- Academic painting, the pre-Raphaelites, Aesthetic Movement art including Whistler and Beardsley
- Sculpture including public monuments, such as the Albert Memorial
- Architecture including early modernism, Gothic Revivalism and Arts and Crafts building
- Design products such as furniture, interior design, book design, fashion, and textiles.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Identify visual characteristics associated with different Victorian art and design movements, such as Pre-Raphaelitism, Gothic Revivalism
- Describe the subject matters, interests and ambitions that shape Victorian culture.
- Discuss Victorian art and design works within contexts – artistic, social, political etc.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
In the classroom you will be taught by lecture and slide presentation. An offsite, guided museum visit will also be part of your learning (this will involve some walking). You will be invited to take part in group discussion. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course and will be printed for you.
One session of this course takes place at an offsite gallery in London. Offsite 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 buildings), you will need to be able to walk between sites 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 seating offsite.) 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 offsite.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
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.
Gallery / Museum entry is free.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You may wish to bring a notebook/pen to take notes. You may wish to purchase books on the suggested reading list (available when the course begins). Museum/gallery entrance is free.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
London architecture: Renaissance, Baroque and Palladian
London Architecture: Post-Modernism
Ancient Rome: Art and Architecture
Art in the age of Napoleon: politics, painting & propaganda
Looking at modern design: Arts and Crafts to Art Deco.
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.
