The History of British Art

10 weekly sessions on campus, on Tuesdays at 2-4pm, starting from Tuesday 30 September - we are no longer taking enrolments for this course.

Overview

The history of artistic production in Britain begins during the Bronze Age, tracing its development through ancient pre-history, to the Early Medieval Period and beyond. This course charts how artists active in the British Isles have adopted and absorbed influences and styles from other nations, before then creating their own, idiosyncratic artworks, in a variety of media. From early metal work to oil on canvas painting and more recent conceptual work, this course challenges the conventional perception that British art is staid, polite, uninspiring and inferior.

This course seeks to challenge the conventional wisdom regarding British art, to encourage you to look again at some of this nation’s great artistic treasures. It's perfect for anyone with an interest in British art. No prior knowledge is expected, only a curiosity to learn more.

Syllabus

Week 1: Art and archelogy, the earliest British works
Week 2: Post-Roman Britain and the early medieval period
Week 3: British ecclesiastical art of the medieval period
Week 4: Early British architecture
Week 5: Court painting and early portraiture, including miniatures
Week 6: The grand tourists
Week 7: The Romantics
Week 8: The Victorians
Week 9: British modernists
Week 10: Later British architecture.

Course lecturer

Ed Williams is an Art Historian who studied under Prof. Janina Ramirez at Oxford. He works at TATE Liverpool, he is a regular contributor to on-line publications, writing in the field of art history and art critique. His work involves regularly leading groups through exhibitions and giving public lectures, he previously taught undergraduate and postgraduate students at a number of Universities including the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Liverpool.

Course fee

Standard fee: £155
Concession fee: £80.