Module 5: Eighteenth Century Art

This module explores the evolution of European fine art in the 1700s — encompassing painting, printmaking, sculpture, and beyond, including developments in interior design and landscape gardening. You will study how social change, war, commerce, empire and shifting tastes shaped art in this period, and how artists responded to those forces.

Why This Module Matters

The 18th century was a time of transformation: Enlightenment ideas, growing commerce and global empires influenced how art was conceived and consumed. Understanding this module allows you to analyze how changing social and economic contexts reshaped artistic styles and broadened what “art” meant.

• Recognize how the rise of academies, exhibitions and the art market altered the role of the artist and art.
• Understand the growth of portraiture, landscape, prints and decorative arts as mainstream forms.
• See how political, religious and commercial shifts — including empire and trade — influenced subject matter and style.

By the end of Module 5, you’ll be able to assess 18th‑century works with awareness of style, medium, context and cultural influence.

What You’ll Learn

• Art Academies & Exhibitions
  How institutions influenced taste, style, and artists’ status in the 18th century.
• Portraiture & Print Culture
  The rise of portrait painting & printmaking and their impact on social and commercial demand.
• Landscape & Urban Views
  Exploration of changing attitudes to nature and urban growth.
• Decorative Arts & Interior Design
  How art intersected with design, architecture, gardening, & visual culture in the 18th century.

What You’ll Do

• Explore Art Market & Exhibitions
  Analyze how the rise of academies and exhibitions influenced artists and public taste.
• Compare Genres
  Explore differences and overlaps in portraiture, landscape, prints, and decorative arts.
• Contextual Interpretation
  Contextualize works within political, economic & colonial influences.
• Trace Artistic Trends
  See how commerce and social change shaped 18th‑century art’s subjects, style, and mediums.

Module Content

This module covers the following topics:

• Introduction
• Academies of Art
• Challenges to Academic Values
• Exhibitions
• The Market for Prints
• Portraiture
• Landscape I
• Urban Views
• Landscape II
• Conclusion

Module Outcomes

By completing Module 5, you will:

• Understand the institutional, social and economic forces that shaped 18th‑century art.
• Be able to analyze artworks from the period with respect to genre, medium, and historical context.
• Recognize how portraiture, landscape, print and decorative arts evolved in response to changing times.
• Have the ability to contextualise 18th‑century art in relation to European social, political, and cultural developments.

Guidance Every Step of the Way

Our expert tutors provide Module 5‑specific guidance, helping you analyze 18th‑century works, understand the impact of academies, the art market, and exhibitions, and contextualize art within the political, economic and social contexts of the time. They offer constructive feedback on your interpretations, refining your awareness of genre, medium, and cultural influences — helping you build a confident, historically informed perspective on 18th‑century art.