Autumn Term Courses: Art History

Unique contributions to temple art and architecture were made under several notable South Indian dynasties from around the 6th to the 16th centuries. This course will explore the history of some of these dynasties and consider the features that mark out their sacred art.

Suggested reading (not essential, but if desired): The Hindu Temple, George Michell ISBN 0-226-53230-5

Nikolaus Pevsner wrote that around 1900, English Architecture was leading the world and Surrey was leading England. We study the Arts and Crafts movement in architecture from Philip Webb to Lethaby, Voysey and Lutyens with particular emphasis on their local works in this richly illustrated course.

‘Exoticism’ is defined as ‘…of foreign origin or character’ something that is '…strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance’ or ‘…of a uniquely new or experimental nature’. Deriving from the ancient rich sources of the Oriental, Islamic, African and Indian cultures, this course looks at how, what and why this notion of 'the Exotic' was embraced and visually expressed within Western European design practices and the decorative arts during the 18th, 19th and early 20th century.

These exotic forms of design will be considered by exploring the striking, glamorous and mysterious historical stylistic periods of visual riches and commodites desired by the nobility, rising wealthy middling classes and ultimately available to the masses that not only exemplified the use of materials and decoration but embodied the exoticism of the female form.

We will study the life and works of Dali, for the two are closely connected. His Surrealist and Metaphysical paintings are often representations of the personal life of this artist, displaying both dream-like and nightmarish qualities.

A previous course explored London's Public Sculpture. This course looks at the richness of sculpture in London's Art Galleries, including the Royal Academy (with its Michelangelo), the Tate Gallery and the casts and originals in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Get more from your Gallery visits with this course.

The needlewoman and the women who read have proven to be popular subjects for both Victorian and modern artists such as Waterhouse, Monet, Hopper and Vuillard, to name but a few.

From around 1660-1820, the Grand Tour was considered to be the best way to complete a gentleman's education and has had a lasting impact on our nation's art. Find out how the adventures of young aristocrats created a higher awareness of art in British society. Popular destinations were the great cities of Italy and remains of ancient Roman and Greek civilizations. Their souvenirs were rather more than today's holiday snaps, replica Eiffel Towers or t-shirts - they filled crates with paintings, sculptures and fine clothes. Although the high aims of an art education were not always the first thing on young men's minds, plenty of them still took delight in the high art and culture of Europe.

This course runs at the same time as Venice: Canaletto and his Rivals, October 2010 - January 2011.

This course aims to focus on Renoir's wonderful use of colour and his ability to convey a sense of "conviviality" in all he surveys. We shall also consider his place among his contemporaries of the Impressionist era.

From exquisite boxwood religious carvings to huge plastercasts of world masterpieces, from a fragile wax sketch by Michelangelo to a showy marble statue by Giambologna, from mediaeval fragments to a major Rodin collection, the richness of the Victoria & Albert Museum is unrivalled. Study a range of sculpture in the sumptuously re-displayed galleries. Meet among the Rodins in the Sculpture Gallery by the Exhibition Road underpass entrance. (Students to make their own travel arrangements. South Kensington is the nearest Tube station.)

To correspond with an exhibition at Tate Modern - “Gauguin - Teller of Tales” - running from September to January, this Study Day will give further insights into the life and work of this fascinating French artist.