107-418 Truth & Beauty: British Art 1840-1914

Formerly available as 107-024 Victorian and Edwardian Art 1840-1914. Students who have completed 107-024 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in art history or the Master of Art Curatorship.

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.

• be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays;

• be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations;

• be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion;

• be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision;

• be able to participate in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.

A 750 word written exercise 20% (due during the semester), a 1500 word class paper 35% (due during the semester) and a 2750 essay 45% (due in the examination period).