The course follows a broadly chronological journey from Classical Antiquity to the late nineteenth century, introducing the major periods, movements, artists and ideas that form the foundations of Western art history.
 
Students study:

• Classical Antiquity

• Medieval art

• The Renaissance

• Baroque

• Rococo

• Neoclassicism

• Romanticism

• Realism

• Impressionism
   

The curriculum covers painting, sculpture and architecture, alongside the materials, techniques, historical contexts and stylistic characteristics associated with each period.

 
The course develops an understanding of:

Artists and artworks
Building a strong visual memory of significant artists and works.
 
Periods and movements
Understanding how styles and ideas develop and change over time.
 
Architecture
Learning to recognise architectural forms, structures, plans, elevations and functions.
 
Materials and techniques
Exploring processes including fresco, tempera, oil painting, marble carving and bronze casting.
 
Historical context
Considering the social, religious, political and cultural circumstances in which works were made.
 

Learning to look
A central part of Foundations is learning how to look at and describe a work of art. Students are taught the principles of formal visual analysis, learning to identify and communicate what they see using accurate art historical terminology.
 
This includes looking at:

• composition

• colour

• light

• surface and brushwork

• materials

• pose and movement

• finish

• architectural structure and function
   

Students learn to move from observation to analysis, connecting visual evidence with questions of style, technique, function and historical context.

 
How is the course assessed?
Assessment is designed around the skills that are most important at this stage of Art History.
 
Students work towards:

• written examinations

• visual and technical knowledge tests

• structured visual analysis

• an ongoing Art History journal

• a formal analysis essay

• gallery-based exercises
   

The Art History journal runs throughout the course, giving students a place to record observations, visual analysis and new terminology. Written work is deliberately introduced at an appropriate level. The emphasis is on accurate observation, visual knowledge and clear analytical writing, rather than extended theoretical or historiographical essays.