History of Art
The subject is a very popular and successful at both AS and A2 level with many girls carrying on to study History of Art at university. Recent History of Art university applicants have been successful at both Oxford University and the Courtauld Institute of Arts. The teachers of the subject are Miss Oakden and Mr Parsons.
AS level:
AS level:
- HART 1 is a Visual Analysis paper which involves dissecting the composition of paintings, sculptures and architecture.
- HART 2 covers any number of themes from context and patronage to style and function. The L6 look in detail at the art from Classical Greece and Rome, Renaissance Italy and 19th century France to discuss these themes.
A2 level:
- HART 3 looks closely at art and architecture created in fifteenth century Europe. This module is complemented with a trip to Florence in the Michaelmas Term.
- HART 4 studies the art and architecture created in Europe and the United States between 1900 and 1945. This module supports a trip to New York in the Lent Term.
Trips
Trips are an integral part of the course as it is essential to see works of art first hand in order to appreciate issues such as size, location, texture etc. In the first year we visit the British Museum, the National Gallery and the Tate Modern as well as the Courtauld Institute of Arts, the world’s leading art history university, where the girls are able to meet students and learn more about studying the subject at a higher level.
In the second year we have longer trips to Florence and New York.
In the second year we have longer trips to Florence and New York.
Extra Curriculum: Art Exhibition
The recent change in syllabus for history of art has resulted in the abandonment of personal projects and dissertations. In an attempt to allow the history of art A2 to explore the subject further, as well as vocationally, the U6 art historians take part in an extra curriculum project; curating their own art exhibition. The girls vote for a committee, decide a theme and work together to collect the images and research in order to present to the school, during the Lent Term, an academic and well arranged exhibition. During the process leading art curators will visit the school for workshops and to discuss the project with the girls.
The recent change in syllabus for history of art has resulted in the abandonment of personal projects and dissertations. In an attempt to allow the history of art A2 to explore the subject further, as well as vocationally, the U6 art historians take part in an extra curriculum project; curating their own art exhibition. The girls vote for a committee, decide a theme and work together to collect the images and research in order to present to the school, during the Lent Term, an academic and well arranged exhibition. During the process leading art curators will visit the school for workshops and to discuss the project with the girls.
The Minerva Society
The Minerva Society is very active in organising trips, talks and outside speakers of an art historical nature and the Arts and Media Society also runs events relevant to the subject.
During the last academic year the Minerva Society hosted talks by art historians Dan Evans and Richard Stemp, as well as from sculptor Oliver Barratt. We also had trips to the Francis Bacon and Picasso exhibitions in London. During the Lent Term Mr Parsons gave a talk on the divine architecture of the New Sacristy in Florence. In the Summer Term the Minerva Society hosted a cross cultural evening in the Rose Theatre; the playing of Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere mei, Deus shown with images from Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, where the music was originally written to be played. The Society also raised £175 in a cake sale, for those made homeless in the L’Aquila earthquake, April 2009. Similar projects are planned for the future.
The joint heads of the Minerva Society are Charlotte Sarrado and Emily Girkins.