History of Art, with its emphasis on visual analysis and critical thinking, is a vital discipline in a world dominated by images, where the primary vehicle of culture is visual. Despite this, many people feel ill at ease with visual information and do not understand the way in which images make an impact and produce meaning. The study of History of Art will enable you to:

• think analytically and write persuasively
• build your own criteria for making value judgements
• understand the art intervenes in the social, political, psychological, and philosophical contexts from which it emerges

The course will provide you with a firm foundation on which to build an understanding of the visual culture and physical environment of modern-day Ireland, set within both its European and wider global contexts.

In Year 1 you will cover the history and theory associated with the major phases of western art and architecture – from classical antiquity to the present – and examine the critical concepts that underpin the culture of the visual arts in the west. It is an exciting and stimulating course that teaches you to use your eyes, to ask questions, and to have confidence in your critical judgments.

In Years 2 and 3 you will build on that knowledge with a series of historically and thematically specific classes, allowing you to consider material in more detail and to perfect your skills in visual literacy.

Year 1
Core modules:

• Western Painting, Sculpture and Architecture from Antiquity through to Contemporary Art

Year 2
Core modules:

• Modernism in Europe, 1860-1940
• The History and Theory of Photography
• Portraiture
• Art and Patronage in the Renaissance
• Modernism and Postmodernism
• The Art of Daily Life, 1600-1900, and
• Art and its Histories and Theories

Year 3
Core modules:

• Historiography and Current Methodologies
• The Art of 18th-Century Ireland
• The Art and Culture of Renaissance Rome
• The Art of the Academy in the 19th Century
• The Visual Culture of the Weimar Republic
• Photography and Post Modernism
• The History and Theory of Drawing
• The History and Theory of Italian Baroque Art, and
• The Role of the Artist after 1945.

See the College Calendar for additional information on the Programme and the Book of Modules for further information on modules.

Refer to CK101 and CK108

Refer to CK101 and CK108. First year students choose Arts subjects when registering.

Expected lecture hours: The lectures are supplemented by tutorials, which are student-centred, supportive learning environments in which particular issues can be discussed in more detail.

Field trips: Study trips to Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, Florence, London, New York, and Rome are a crucial part of the learning process.

Written exams will take place before Christmas and in May.  Not all modules will have formal examinations.  Many modules use other types of assessment.

See here for information on assessment