The course will introduce students to some of the main issues and debates around the visual arts in Britain, Europe and America 1840-1900. It will deal primarily with French and British art but will also include material relating to Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Belgium and America and will examine the social context of the production of art including academies, exhibitions, training and artists groups. Students will be encouraged to look critically at the categorisations used in relation to nineteenth century art such as Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism and at the concept of modernity and the rise of notions of the avant-garde. Key theoretical texts will be introduced for class discussion. Students will have set reading for the seminars and a key image to be prepared for each lecture.

There will be a 1-hour lecture and a one-and-a-half hour workshop each week.

the course will be taught by Moira Vincentelli and Kathy Talbot.

The course will enable the student

1. to identify the principle art tendencies in European painting 1840-1900 and will be able to discuss key images in relation to these.

2. to be able to read critically some of the theoretical and art historical literature on nineteenth century European painting and be able to recognise the problems of categorisations of artists and movements.

3. to develop expertise in note-taking, library resaerch, essay writing, and the presentation of ideas in class discussion