As the title suggests this module introduces the course to the student in broad terms. It will introduce artistic styles, specific artistic movements, pivotal paintings and artists. The subject matter will explain painting structure; technique, medium, style, approach and themes from cave decorations to contemporary art. It will include relevant sculptures, applied art and architecture and demonstrate how the works of art are historically and artistically connected.
The Art Appreciation Course
Author : Stephen Farthing
Introduction to the Art Appreciation Course
Art History
Earth & Rock
The First Civilisations
Entering the Modern World
Renaissance to Baroque
Rococo to Neoclassicism
Romanticism to Innovation
The School of Paris
The Gradual Revolution
Making the Modern & Contemporary
Considered by many to be the greatest period of creative and intellectual achievement, the author discusses the Renaissance from its origins in 13th century humanism to the 16th century when the artistic climate in Europe changed dramatically. Focusing on the works by notable artists of the period and discussing styles and themes, the author provides an understanding of the great cultural, intellectual and social transformation that swept across Europe at that time.
Author : Andrew Graham-Dixon
The Origins of the Renaissance
Florence & the Renaissance
The Renaissance Courts & the Birth of a New Kind of Artist
The High Renaissance & its Enemies
Venice, Melting Pot of the Renaissance
The End of the Renaissance?
This module discusses the artistic, religious and cultural movements of the 17th century and how these spread across the continent of Europe. The course will explain the artistic styles of the period and how technical and social advancements inspired the artists and their patrons.
The Authors: Dr Sheila McTighe
The Authors: Dr Kathrin Wagner
Introduction
Artistic Styles in the 17th Century
The female lens: Artemesia Gentileschi
Religion & the Visual Arts in the 17th Century
The colonial lens: Juan Correa and Baroque Art in Mexico
Court Culture and the Arts : Rome, Florence & Madrid
The migrant’s lens: Cornelis Johnson at the royal court in London
Ut Pictura Poesis : Storytelling, Passions of the Soul & Artists’ Status
Poussin and Lorrain: Animating the Landscape
Le Brun: Capturing the Passions of the Soul
French Académie Royale and the Power of Human Expression
Versailles – A Closing Note
Assignment Three
Further Reading
Where to See
The author explores the developments primarily in European fine arts of the 18th century. While the focus will be on painting, other media including drawing, prints and sculpture will be included alongside aspects of landscape gardening and interior design. The module explains how war, religion, commerce and the pursuit of empire came to influence the art and culture of the time.
Author : Dr John Bonehill
Introduction
Academies of Art
Challenges to Academic Values
Exhibitions
The Market for Prints
Portraiture
Landscape I
Urban Views
Landscape II
Conclusion
Here the course concentrates on 19th century painting, sculpture, graphic arts, photography, architecture and decorative arts across the western world. The 19th century is a rich period, artistically and historically from the Revolutions in France and America up to the end of the Victorian era; a period when art and artists were influenced by conflict, by industrial advancement, by travel and by the development of consumerism.
Author : Dr Carol Jacobi
Introduction
Romanticism
Realism
Symbolism
Summary
The impressionist painters of the 19th century were so influential on the future development of art that they warrant a separate module. The styles, techniques and philosophy of this major movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries will be discussed in detail, as will the artists’ avant garde lifestyles and the public’s initial reaction to what today is recognised as a hugely influential period in art.
Author : Christopher Riopelle
Setting the Scene for an Artistic Revolution
Manet
Origins of Impressionism
The New Painting
Doubts Creep In
Post-Impressionisms
Impressionism Once More
Conclusion
The two different and instantly recognisable 20th century styles of Art Nouveau and Art Deco had a great influence on art and design of the period. The styles were both immensely popular and were seen as revolutionary at the time. Their origins, their influences, their global reach and the politics of the time will be explained in this segment of the course.
Author : Dr Paul Atterbury
Art Nouveau & Art Deco Introduction
What is Art Nouveau?
The Origins & Sources of Art Nouveau
Naming Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau & International Exhibitions
Exotic & Colonial Influences on Art Nouveau
Promoting Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau Design & Decoration
Art Nouveau & Architecture
Art Nouveau & Art
Art Nouveau & Politics
Art Nouveau & Sex
Art Nouveau & Technology
Art Nouveau by Country
Decline of Art Nouveau
What is Art Deco?
The Origins of Art Deco
Naming Art Deco
Art Deco & International Exhibitions
Primitive Influences
Promoting Art Deco
Art Deco & Architecture
Art Deco & Art
Art Deco & Industrial Design
Art Deco & Jazz
Trains, Boats & Planes
Streamlining
Art Deco & Cinema
Art Deco by Country
Art Deco & Politics
This module discusses important movements in Modern Art evolving at the turn of the 20th century and proliferating through much of the last century. The political turmoil and the unsettling atmosphere of industrial disputes, social upheaval and mechanised warfare are influences seen in the works of art of the day. The author will explain the trends and artistic styles of the times choosing particular works and explaining their importance, their medium and their context.
Author : Professor David Cottington
Introduction: Modern Times
Gallery Cubism: Putting Illusionism Through its Paces
Salon Cubism: Painting Modern Life
1912-14: Breakthrough to Abstraction
From Representation to Abstraction to Abstract Art
The Russian Avant-Garde: Abstract Art as Realism
Other paths to abstract art: Kandinsky and Kupka
Surrealism: The formation of the Avant-Garde
Surrealism in the 1920s: Automatism
Surrealism in the 1930s: Dream Painting
Surrealism from the 1930s on: Between Genders
Conclusion
The period of art described as Modern Art in this module starts after Cubism and take us on a rollercoaster artistic ride to the late seventies. The author reveals the extraordinary pace of artistic progress over the decades, introduces the pivotal works of art of this era and places them in their cultural and social context.
Author : Susie Hodge
Introduction
Cubism
Vorticism
Futurism
The Russian Avant-Garde
Abstract Art
German Expressionism
French Expressionism
Austrian Expressionism
Der Blaue Reiter
The Bauhaus
Neo-Plasticism
Metaphysical Painting
Dada
Surrealism
Neue Sachlichkeit
Abstract Expressionism
Hard Edge Painting
Post-Painterly Abstraction
Nouveau Réalisme
Pop Art
Op Art
Minimalism
Conceptual Art
Neo-Expressionism
Arte Povera
Photorealism
Conclusion
The art discussed in this chapter comes from the era after Modern Art and introduces different concepts of art as it is made today, Artworks in their broadest form will be explored; new technologies, new materials and new theories about the nature of art, including film, video, computers, three-dimensional works, live elements and performances. Often at odds with the public and sometimes at odds with the critics, our author explains why these works hold an important place in the development of art in its widest sense.
Author : Anna Moszynska
Introduction
The Contested Role of Painting
Appropriation Art
Sculpture and the Public Realm
The Rise of Installation
Photography and Art
Technology: Moving Image Art
Ecology and the Body
Global Concerns
Art as Social Practice
Our expert in this module discusses how to some art has become a commodity and looks at the business of trading art. It will give you an overview of the international art market today, explore the different ways in which art is valued and how the market is subdivided, from paintings, drawings, prints, furniture, sculpture, silver, porcelain and more. You will learn how auction houses, art galleries and dealers work, be given an outline of the major international art markets and will discover the highest priced artists today and the reasons for their popularity.
Author: Jeremy Eckstein
Introduction
Section 1
What do we mean by art?
A brief socio-economic overview
Patronage, New Money & Legacy
Economic Disruption
Section 2 – Defining the Art Market
What we mean by the art market – Segmenting or Slicing up the Cake
Segmenting the art market by sector (vertically)
Segmenting the art market geographically (horizontally)
Segmenting the art market - by value
Why People Buy Art – a Behavioural Approach
“Trophy Art”
The Size of the Global Art Market
Global Hubs
London
Economic Impact
New York
Paris
China
Hong Kong
Other Centres of Art Market Activity
Freeports
Overview
Section 3 - Primary and Secondary Markets
Primary and Secondary Markets
The Primary Market
The Secondary Market
Section 4 - The Auction Houses and The Dealers
The Auction Houses
The Dealers
Blurring the Boundaries – the Dealers
The Auction Houses Re-visited
Guarantees
The Auction Houses as Dealers
The Dealers’ Response – Art Fairs
Branding
2020 – A pivotal turning point
Section 5 – Market Dynamics – Asymmetry of Information / Lack of Transparency
Section 6 – Online Trading
Section 7 – Art as an Asset Class
La Peau de L’Ours
The British Railways Pension Fund
Art Funds
Art Clubs
Art and Wealth Management
Art Secured Lending
“Commoditising” Art; Fractional Ownership
Section 8 – Navigating the Minefield
Art Advisory Services
The Role of Taste-Makers
Provenance
Trophy Buying, Signalling, Art As Experience
Is There a Correct Price for a Work of Art?
Section 9 – Art And Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Statistical Modelling
Statistical Modelling
Artificial Intelligence
Section 10 – Digital Art, NFTs, Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies
Non-Fungible Tokens
Digital Art
Section 11 –Surviving the Past, Looking to the Future
Brexit
COVID-19
Other Extrinsic Influences
Section 12 – Conclusion – Looking to the Future
Economic Disruption Revisited
To complete the Art Appreciation Course we are taking a close look at the history of British Art, often seen as eccentric and at odds with the rest of Europe. This module will discuss the most significant British artists from the English reformation to the YBAs (Young British Artists), explain the structures and styles of the times and the pivotal movements placed within a historical context.
The Authors
Tudor England
The Stuarts
The Hanoverians
The Reign of Queen Victoria
The Modern Age
Contemporary Britain
Further Reading
Where to See