History of Art
We offer History of Art at AS and A-level. The course assumes no prior knowledge of History of Art and encourages the girls to engage with art objects from a critical as well as an appreciative perspective.
At AS girls are introduced to the language of History of Art. The specialist vocabulary that is used to study painting, architecture and sculpture is acquired through detailed examination of a wide range of examples from the canon of Western art and architecture. They become familiar with the chronology of Western art history through the study of two units: 'The birth and rebirth of Western art' focuses on the Renaissance in Italy and northern Europe, whilst 'Art of the modern world' deals with the emergence of the avant-garde from the Impressionist period onwards.
At A2 girls apply the critical and visual skills gained at AS to two topics which are studied in depth. Both the Art of the Baroque and Impressionist periods are examined in their social and historical contexts. The A2 course includes a coursework unit in which students produce a 3,000-word dissertation on any art historical topic of their choice.
The course provides students with ample opportunity to study works of art and architecture at first hand. Students are taken to the National Gallery, the Courtauld Institute and Tate Modern and can participate in the annual art department study trip abroad which last year visited Paris.
A number of girls have gone on to read History of Art at university. They have taken up places at Cambridge, Nottingham, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Oxford Brookes.
