History of Art

Fine collections of works of art, well–stocked libraries and the spectacular architectural environment all on your doorstep mean studying History of Art at Cambridge is particularly rewarding.

Why History of Art?

If you’re really motivated to study works of art, and to understand them in their historical and social contexts, this course will be of particular interest to you.

The Department

"The chance to study my favourite subject in an intimate setting with some of the field’s leading scholars couldn’t be missed. Since coming to Cambridge, the History of Art Department has offered engaging lectures, a beautiful library and ‘hands on’ experience with some of our country’s most beautiful paintings, sculptures and buildings. It’ll be a shame to have to graduate!" – Bobby

The Department of History of Art is located in a row of historic buildings in Trumpington Street, near the Fitzwilliam Museum. Most lectures and seminars, and many supervisions, take place in the Department. Its facilities include the comprehensive Faculty library, a rich collection of books especially relevant to the teaching of the Department.

Though the Department has always been comparatively small, its teaching covers a wide spectrum of art and architecture, from the medieval to modern periods. Its international standing is high and it has an established link with Columbia University in New York. Particular attention is paid to the first–hand study of works of art and you receive an exceptional level of attention and support throughout your degree. Academic standards are also very high, so in return for the level of attention you receive, you're expected to undertake a demanding but fair workload and to show corresponding levels of motivation and commitment.

A treasury of resources

Cambridge’s resources are outstanding and we take full advantage of them – there’s no substitute for looking at the real objects. The Fitzwilliam Museum is probably the finest university museum in the world, while Kettle’s Yard and the Colleges have important collections of modern and medieval art. We use them all in our teaching: we study the stained glass and architecture of King’s College Chapel, illuminated manuscripts in the Colleges, and sculptures by Henry Moore, to name but a few topics.

The Fitzwilliam Museum, founded in 1816 by Richard, Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion, has become one of the finest art collections in the world, ranging from Ancient Egyptian to modern times. The curatorial staff contribute to the teaching of the Department through lectures and classes held at the Museum, and its collections form an important object of study throughout the course. The Fitzwilliam Museum also houses a reference library of great benefit to students. The Hamilton Kerr Institute at Whittlesford, just outside Cambridge, is the Fitzwilliam Museum’s picture conservation department and visits to the Institute are made regularly from the Department.

At Cambridge, buying expensive art books also isn't a problem: you have access to the University Library, which has world–class holdings; the Department's library, which covers all student needs; the Fitzwilliam Museum’s library; and your College library.

Teaching

Our course aims to foster a wide and deep understanding of art and architecture, and to help you develop visual literacy and awareness, as well as a range of critical and analytical skills. First–year students typically have three hours of lectures and three hours of seminars each week. Weekly supervisions give you the unique opportunity to put forward your point of view, and to receive feedback on your work from a specialist. They're also important in providing opportunities for group discussion and encounters with works of art throughout Cambridge’s museums and Colleges.

Lectures centre on the analysis of images and cover all topics taught, with many given by visiting experts from outside Cambridge. Some practical training in photographic and graphic skills is provided in Part I of the course and the University and Colleges offer a wide range of artistic activities. Students find that the more effort they put into all aspects of the course, the greater their enjoyment and satisfaction.

During vacations we encourage you to travel abroad, and College financial support is usually available; we also organise study outings.

The ideal applicant?

There's no single ideal applicant, nor are there special requirements for this course. A Level History of Art or equivalent is useful but by no means essential. We're looking for students with general intellectual interests, some knowledge – and love – of the history of art and, if possible, a reading ability in one or two foreign languages. Intelligence, motivation and visual sensitivity are essential.

Preparation

You should visit as many museums and exhibitions as you can, taking descriptive notes of what you see. Visit buildings such as churches or country houses. Don't be afraid to sketch, even if you have no artistic talent – it's an excellent way of remembering images. When a work of art or architecture excites you, try to analyse why it has this effect.

Recommended reading

If you are thinking of applying to study History of Art, you may like to read the following books:

• E H Gombrich, The Story of Art
• H Honour and J Fleming, A World History of Art
• D Watkin, A History of Western Architecture

Some familiarity with classical mythology and the Bible will be invaluable for the study of the meaning of works of art. A preparatory reading list is available from the Department.

Changing course

The course is divided into three one–year Parts: Part I, Part IIA and Part IIB, and students may join from other Cambridge courses after Part I in another subject. It's possible to study one or two years of History of Art, either before or after another subject such as Theology and Religious Studies, English, Classics or Philosophy.

After Cambridge

Although the course isn’t intended to be purely vocational, our graduates are wellequipped for employment in museums and art galleries, agencies for the care and conservation of monuments and heritage management, fine art dealing, publishing, advertising and the visual media, as well as for university and school teaching.

Some of our former undergraduates who have achieved prominence include Antony Gormley, winner of the 1994 Turner Prize; Dr Philip Rylands, Director of the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice; Dr Charles Saumarez–Smith, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy in London; Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate Gallery, Sir Hugh Roberts, formerly Director of the Royal Collection and Surveyor of The Queen's Works of Art, and James Stourton, Chairman of Sotheby's UK.

Course outline

Year 1 Part I Part I provides you with a broad introduction to the history of art, and to the making and meaning of art objects, with special emphasis on the collections of the Fitzwilliam Museum. These run from the art of Ancient Egypt to modern times, and include major examples of Medieval, Renaissance and post–Renaissance art as well as non–Western items. During the year you take five compulsory papers and complete a short dissertation: The Objects of Art History – a survey of art and architecture that introduces the history of art from antiquity to the modern era The Making of Art – two papers covering issues of manufacture, technique and style in painting and sculpture, in the context of their historical development The Meaning of Architecture and Art – two papers concerned with how works of architecture and art are interpreted in light of cultural traditions the short dissertation is 5,000 words on a work of art or architecture in or around Cambridge

Year 2 Part IIA Part II deepens your knowledge and understanding by focusing in greater depth on specific issues. In Part IIA you take one compulsory paper along with two pairs of papers on Special Subjects: Approaches to the History of Art – the compulsory paper covers the history of the discipline and its critical methodologies from antiquity to the present day Special Subjects – chosen from a range of up to nine, each pair deals with a particular person, subject or period. These currently include Anglo–Saxon and Byzantine Art, French Gothic Architecture, The Work of Albrecht Dürer, Italian Renaissance and Baroque Painting and Sculpture, Dutch Painting, British Neo–Classical Architecture, Russian Painting, Surrealism, and Post–1945 Modernism Year 3 Part IIB In Part IIB you take one compulsory paper, two further pairs of Special Subjects papers and submit a dissertation: The Display of Art – the compulsory paper explores the ways in which art is collected, displayed and experienced in society Special Subjects – the options available are as those in Part IIA, but you take two subjects that you haven't studied before the dissertation is 7,000 – 9,000 words on a topic of your choice, as agreed with your Director of Studies