Mullins introduces readers to the Terracotta Army and Nok sculptures, Renaissance artists such as Giotto and Michelangelo, trailblazers including Käthe Kollwitz, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and contemporary artists who create art as resistance, such as Ai Weiwei and Shirin Neshat. She also restores forgotten artists such as Sofonisba Anguissola, Guan Daosheng and Jacob Lawrence, and travels to the Niger valley, Peru, Java, Rapa Nui and Australia, to broaden our understanding of what art is and should be. M. Kemp, The Science of Art: Optical Themes in Western Art from Brunelleschi to Seurat , New Haven & London, (several eds.) A tuition fee loan is available from the UK government to cover course fees in full for Home (UK, Irish nationals and other eligible students with UK citizens' rights - see below*) students undertaking their first undergraduate degree**, so you don’t need to pay your course fees up front. What do you get when you pair a famous artist and a famous art critic and have them write a book? A poignant, educational, and colorful collaboration that dives deep into the minds of artists throughout time. Giorgio Vasari is considered the world’s first real art historian. His artist portrayal and passion for making sure their work was remembered laid the foundation for modern art historians’ work.

Each college has a unique character, but generally their facilities are similar. Each one, large or small, will have the following essential facilities: If you are an art student, then you are going to need a good selection of books. It is always useful to have at least one good general chronology: a book that provides an encyclopedic oversight of art periods over large historical timeframes. In addition, you will need books that give insight into how artworks are interpreted. You will require books on the theories underpinning the production and historical significance of artworks. If you aim to specialize in a practical field – such as artist, art restorer, and so on, then you especially will need books on the development of art materials and techniques.

The Lives of the Artists – Giorgio Vasari

Candidates should show evidence of lively engagement with visual culture, both contemporary and historical. Prior knowledge of art history is absolutely not a requirement: many successful applicants have never studied the subject before university. Students also have the opportunity to undertake a French, German or Italian for Art Historians course through the University’s Language Centre.

At Oxford, everyone is a member of a college as well as their subject department(s) and the University. Students therefore have both the benefits of belonging to a large, renowned institution and to a small and friendly academic community. Each college or hall is made up of academic and support staff, and students. Colleges provide a safe, supportive environment leaving you free to focus on your studies, enjoy time with friends and make the most of the huge variety of opportunities. When a work of art or architecture excites you, try to analyse why it has this effect. The other essential preparation is to gain a firm grounding in iconography by improving your knowledge of the Bible and classical mythology. A good basic knowledge of European history is also extremely useful. The course does not require any specific prior knowledge of the History of Art, but you may like to read some of the following books before you start at Cambridge. Surveys

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course. Written test

Both art students, artists, and enthusiasts will enjoy Hagen’s analysis of symbolism and visual elements artists use when creating their works of art. Although the focus of this book is narrow, the content is intriguing while also being fun to read. If you like solving mysteries or putting together complex puzzles, this book is something you will want to add to your bookshelves. No previous experience or qualifications are required for these courses and they do not form part of the assessment.You need a historical overview, because not only do the styles, techniques and materials that artists use to make art vary across time-periods, audiences and reasons for making art differ too. You also need to know what art historians consider and look for when interpreting artworks. Teaching usually takes place in the department or in a college, as well as in one of the Oxford museums and galleries where tutors often lecture in front of actual works of art. Visits to exhibitions or historical buildings will also be part of the course. Living costs at Oxford might be less than you’d expect, as our world-class resources and college provision can help keep costs down. While many of our incoming students have previously studied History of Art at A-level or have other Art School training, we recommend the following books in preparation for our BA programme, which stresses the importance of both historical research and critical thought.

As the title suggests, the book covers one hundred familiar and unusual paintings and breaks them down into individual details. The authors essentially decode what the artist was trying to say or communicate historically with the choices and details of their painting and describe it to the reader in an accessible way. John Fleming, Hugh Honour, Nikolaus Pevsner, The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture (several editions) This book was first released in November of 2005. The book features over 1200 works of art that cover movements and styles from classical art and the Renaissance to Impressionism, Pop Art, and modern art. The images are large, high-quality reproductions that allow you to get a good feel for the works of art. Giorgio Vasari, Lives of the Artists, selected lives trans. by G. Bull, Penguin, 2 vols., 1965 & 1987 You do not need to take a written test as part of an application for this course. Written work Description:A thrilling journey through 100,000 years of art, from the first artworks ever made to art’s central role in culture today Despite what you may have heard about Art History being a frivolous course of study, it’s much more than just memorizing the names and dates of paintings. At its core, Art History is a dynamic field which ties together skills in history, criticism, anthropology, architecture, sociology, linguistics, economics, chemistry, and so on, all through the lens of art. Art historians don’t just end up as curators in museums (which are highly competitive positions). They can end up as artists, conservationists, critics, or involved in law, geopolitics, and social justice.