Use the Tab and Up, Down arrow keys to select menu items.
This course explores the relationship between art and a particularly eventful and transformative period in European history, from c.1750 to c.1850.
This course examines visual culture from Western Europe (chiefly France and Britain) from c.1750 to c.1850. During this period, a series of major scientific, political, social, and economic changes (including the American and French revolutions, the Industrial Revolution, the emergence of consumer society, the expansion of geographical knowledges, and the increasing reach of imperialism) laid the foundations for so-called ‘modernity’, and in the process transformed – and were shaped by – the visual arts. Topics to be covered include British travel within the Pacific and related visual cultures; the emergence of Neoclassicism; slavery, racism, and its entanglements with art; imperial anxiety and ruins; the politics of landscape imagery; developments in the public display of art and the institution of the museum; and the impact of the Romantic movement.
Successful engagement with this course is designed to help participants develop:1. a sound understanding of, and ability to discuss, key themes in the visual culture of this period and region2. a more inclusive view of the contexts that affect – and are affected by – images3. a capacity for critical and interdisciplinary thinking and scholarly writing4. an ability to consider art in socio-political context, and to recognize and describe its active role in shaping this5. strong visual literacy skills, and the ability to communicate ideas from images
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Any 15 points at 100 level from ARTH, or60 points at 100 level from the Schedule V of the BA.
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Rosie Ibbotson
Please check the course LEARN page for further details and updates.
There are no ‘textbooks’ as such, nor is it a requirement to purchase the books listed below, but you might find the accessible overviews of the period they provide useful. However, be sure to read them critically!+ David Bindman (ed), The history of British art 1600-1870 (London: 2008)+ Matthew Craske, Art in Europe, 1700-1830 (Oxford: 1997)+ David Irwin, Neo-classicism (London: 1997)+ William Vaughan, Romanticism and art (London: 1994)+ William Vaughan, British painting: the golden age (London: 1999)
Library portal
Domestic fee $894.00
International fee $4,100.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Humanities .