107-024 Truth & Beauty: British Art 1840-1914

Formerly available as 111-214/314 Historicism in European Art 1790-1880 and as 107-024 Victorian and Edwardian Art 1840-1914. Students who have completed 111-214 or 111-314 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 12.5 points of first-year art history, see Prerequisites, or first-year European studies, see Prerequisites.

The subject examines the production and critical reception of 19th and early 20th century British art and its underlying political and social concerns. Special attention is paid to the Pre-Raphaelite movement and its impact on avant garde art practice. The subject explores the significance of the Pre-Raphaelite movement across a range of genres and media: landscape, social realism, decorative art, sculpture, photography, and graphic art during the period 1840-1914. The role of women as producers of and as subjects within Pre-Raphaelite art will also be addressed. On completion of the subject students should have an understanding of the role of the Pre-Raphaelite movement in 19th and early 20th century British art; how contemporary events and issues were reflected in the art of the period; have developed skills in analysing art and design, based on literary and historical sources.

Written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.