How to Look at Art
This course offers a focussed analysis of the key movements, artists, and ideas in Western art from the 14th to the 19th century.
We will address and discuss questions such as:
- How do you read a picture?
- Why does that sculpture look the way it does?
- How do artists make their works?
You will be introduced to the important debates and ideas, as well as the key fundamentals of art history as a discipline. You will enhance your understanding of art and art history, through formal and contextual analysis.
Why Glasgow?
The University of Glasgow is ideally situated for the study of art history. Not only is the University ranked number 3 in the Guardian’s Best UK Universities history of art league table, but it also holds its own impressive collection held at the Hunterian Art Gallery and Museum, and the collections centre at Kelvin Hall.
Glasgow is also the contemporary visual art capital of Scotland, with a vibrant and innovative art scene, and home to world-class collections of art, from the newly re-opened Burrell Collection to the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, located next to the university.
Teaching on this course will be a mixture of lectures, gallery visits and tutor-led discussions.
No previous experience of studying art history is required, just a curiosity to learn.
Applications closed for 2023
Key information
Arrival date: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Orientation day: Friday, 16 June
Classes start: Monday, 19 June
Classes end: Friday, 30 June
Accommodation check out: Saturday, 1 July
Credits: 10
Assessment information: visual assessment and essay
Assessment submission date: Friday, 7 July - to be confirmed
Tuition fee: £1,880
Accommodation cost: £348.00
What you will learn
This course aims to:
- Introduce you to art history and develop your knowledge through the focussed analysis of western art from the 14th to the 19th century, including key concepts such as formal and contextual analysis.
- Develop your critical awareness of the subject by identifying the wide variety of stylistic and cultural components that influenced western art.
- Familiarise you with some of the debates surrounding methodology, historiography, post-colonialism and context which are associated with this area of study.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Articulate, orally and in writing, knowledge of western art from the 14th to the 19th century, including the major art movements and artists.
- Critically analyse and interpret major works of western art in terms of imagery, function, methods of production and stylistic and cultural components.
- Identify and evaluate art historical approaches and interpretations of western art.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent)
- you should be currently enrolled at an international higher education institution.
If your first language is not English, you must meet our minimum proficiency level:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) overall score of 6.0, with no sub test less than 5.5
- we also accept equivalent scores in other recognised qualifications such as ibTOEFL, CAE, CPE and more.
This is a guide, for further information email internationalsummerschools@glasgow.ac.uk
Teaching pattern
4 hours per day, Monday to Friday.