History of Art

The basic material of History of Art is the art of all periods. This includes buildings, sculptures, drawings, paintings, prints, and the products of the decorative and industrial arts. At Aberdeen we focus on the Western European tradition, with options in Latin-American art.

Degree Programme Structure & Content

Courses are available from first to fourth year. There is an Honours degree and a Designated degree in History of Art.

First Year

Students aiming for an Honours degree normally take both our first year courses.

• Case Studies in Western Art offers an introduction to the history of art from prehistoric cave paintings to conceptual art. Focussing on key moments and locations, this course introduces many ‘landmark’ works to new students.

• Modern Art is concerned with the period 1820 to the present day. Through an examination of themes such as the changing role of the artist, and the relationship(s) between the artist and society in a time of great change, the emergence and development of Modernism in Western art is discussed.

Second Year
Classical to Columbus, covers painting, sculpture and architecture from the period 200-1600, with a special emphasis on the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The Age of the Baroque: from Caravaggio to Robert Adam examines in detail European art of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Third & Fourth Year (Honours)
Topics currently available include: Scottish Painting; American Modernism; French 19th Century Art; Caravaggio; Netherlandish and Venetian Painting; Italian and Northern Renaissance; Michelangelo; Romanesque and Country House Architecture; Garden Design; Early Insular Art (British 600-900); Latin-American Art, Modern Russian Art, Performance Art, Postmodernism. All single Honours students take a fourth year course entitled Critical Perspectives in Art History and submit a Dissertation on a topic of their own choice. Honours Students also follow an assessed programme of fieldwork which includes tutor-led visits to London and Paris.

Teaching & Assessment

In first year, students attend lectures and tutorials. Each course includes a tutor-led field trip to galleries. Students take slide tests and write essays for each course.

In second year, students attend three one-hour lectures each week. In addition, the class is divided into three groups which meet weekly. The whole class goes on tutor-led field trips. Students write essays and sit a question paper and a slide paper.

Honours courses are generally taught in seminars held twice a week. Students are assessed by a combination of written examination and continuous assessment. In addition, all Single Honours students submit a Dissertation.