Overview

History of Art at University of Glasgow has a vibrant research culture.

A significant recent addition has been the establishment of the Kelvin Centre for Conservation and Cultural Heritage Research. Our established art historical strengths have therefore been augmented by an ambitious new emphasis on technical research and analysis.

The subject area has strong links with external partners nationally and internationally through both project research and partnership working.

We encourage and develop the best object-led research by our art historians, within an interdisciplinary environment in which the historical, theoretical, technical, museological and curatorial strands of the discipline are mutually reinforcing.

Key research clusters

  1. Twentieth century art
  2. Nineteenth century art
  3. Medieval and renaissance art
  4. Conservation, technical art history and textile history

We support rigorous, methodologically-informed scholarship, manifested in grant-funded research programmes, individual scholarly projects and ambitious exhibition curation. We have moved beyond traditional art historical approaches with our newly-developed areas of expertise in technical art history and conservation, underpinned by considerable investment in new facilities for the Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History. This has created links with the physical sciences while providing opportunities for collaboration, particularly with heritage institutions.

 

 

Projects and Networks

Current and Recent

Recently Completed

Web Resources

New Developments

International Reach

Nick Pearce’s established expertise in the area of Chinese art area is now supported with new investment signalled by the appointment of Minna Torma. This dovetails with the establishment of the Scottish Centre for China Research and the Confucius Institute at Glasgow.

Plans are also underway for a China Art Research Network (CARN), with colleagues at Glasgow Museums, the National Museums of Scotland and Christie’s Education, London. The Network aims to provide a platform, nationally and internationally, for art historians, archaeologists and museum professionals who specialise in China and who work in object-based research, including history, technical art history and conservation.

New research area

A significant departure for the Institute is the development of a specialism in Art Law with Christa Roodt, as part of the unit’s partnership with Christie’s Education, London. We aim to develop inter-disciplinary research strength in art, business and law. 

New and ongoing projects

There are numerous ongoing projects within the InstituteFor a full listing, see the ‘Projects and Networks’ tab.

Publications

For recent publications, search for individual staff at https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/enlighten/