History of Art

Course summary

A Level History of Art provides a grand tour of two millennia of art and architecture across the continents and cultures of the globe, spanning the breadth of European, Middle-Eastern, Asian and African societies. The course is structured in three core areas: visual analysis, thematic study, and the study of art- historical periods. Pupils study critical texts in relation to all components of the syllabus (except visual analysis), ranging from biographical to theoretical. These pieces of literature form a core ingredient of the assessment. • In the Visual Analysis component, pupils learn how to analyse European art and architecture from the Classical period to the present day, developing the skills and terminology required to describe works of art and architecture in accurate detail. • In the Thematic component, pupils consider works of art and architecture from different parts of the globe from specific perspectives, comparing and contrasting different cultural approaches to two themes: ‘war’ and ‘identities’. • In the Art Historical component, pupils make a detailed study of a specific period in European and/or American art history, considering works in depth with regard to their social, philosophical, and cultural influences, and examining their role and influence in society. Two periods are chosen from a possible five: the Italian Renaissance (1420-1520); and British and American contemporary culture (1960-2015).