Browse Hierarchy ESH249: Art Histories: an Introduction to the Visual Arts in London

This module is based around the rich visual resources of London. Through lectures and visits to monuments and national museums such as Westminster Abbey, the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The British Museum and the Tate Galleries, as well as to local collections such as the Whitechapel Gallery and contemporary art galleries in the East End, we will explore the histories of art from the medieval period to the present day by focusing on a selected group of objects, images or buildings. This will allow you to develop skills of visual analysis and provide an understanding of the historical context in which the object or building in question was originally made. At the same time we will examine issues of how these objects are presented today, considering the questions of museology, curatorial practice, and the contemporary art market. Topics covered may vary according to exhibitions and temporary displays that are open to the public during the Semester.