History of Art

Course summary

This is a popular A-level choice at Queen's and a wonderful subject to learn when surrounded by the rich resources of London's galleries, museums and buildings. To be a suitable candidate you should be literate, open-minded and above all enthusiastic about exploring intellectual concepts and visual material. Abilities in English, History and possibly Religious Studies are probably the best guide to your likely success in History of Art. You do not need to have studied GCSE Art, and no practical work is involved. We follow the Pearson Specification: A level History of Art. In the first year, we cover varying aspects of art history from many different periods and cultures. Your perceptual skills are trained and refined, enabling you to analyse paintings, sculptures and buildings with confidence and literacy. You will learn about a theme (taken from Identity/War/Nature) and a special period. In the second year, you will study a further theme and a further period in preparation for the two examinations at the end of the course. “You find yourself yearning for another work of art and doing extra study simply because you want to.” We take art historians on many trips in London and beyond, including abroad – in recent years visiting Antwerp, Florence, Paris, Rome, Siena and Venice! 'History of Art is demanding but the most rewarding and inspiring of subjects - it makes you aware of everything.”