HelloÌýeveryone,Ìý
My name is Nina,Ìýand I am aÌýstudent here at The Courtauld, studying for an MA in the History of Art and on ³Ù³ó±ðÌý‘Continuity and Innovation:ÌýReframing Italian Renaissance Art from Masaccio to Michelangelo’Ìýspecial option.Ìý
The aim of thisÌýblog postÌýis toÌýgive you an idea of what a week looks likeÌýwhenÌýstudying at The Courtauld. What makes the courseÌýuniqueÌýis that no week looks the same. For example, one weekÌýwould include lectures in a lecture theatre at Vernon Square, whilst the next might include a trip toÌýa museum collection in London or a Research Forum talk with a guest lecturer.ÌýÌý
The year is split into threeÌýterms. The first termÌýentailsÌýa combination of lectures for your special option and core methodology lectures – lectures that aim to give you a wider knowledge of the History of Art. TheseÌýinclude topics such asÌý‘Psychoanalysis and Feminism’Ìýor ‘Postcolonial theory revisited’. The lecture would be followed by a seminar, where you areÌýputÌýintoÌýsmaller groups to discuss the lecture andÌý³Ù³ó±ðÌýreadings.Ìý
In this term, a week generally looks like this:ÌýÌý
ÌýMonday:ÌýÌý
10-12am – Special Option lectureÌýÌý
2-3pm – Core methodology lectureÌýÌý
4-5pm – Core methodology seminarÌýÌý
Tuesday:ÌýÌý
Library dayÌýÌý
6-8pm – (sometimes) Research Forum eventÌýÌý
Wednesday:ÌýÌý
10-12am – Special Option lectureÌýÌý
1-2pm – optional Latin classÌýÌý
Thursday:Ìý
6-8pm – Careers talkÌýÌý
Friday:Ìý
Library dayÌýÌý
In the second term, we had to choose one module within our special option. For example, our options were:ÌýThe Life and Work of Sandro Botticelli/ Versions of Antiquity in Venetian Art, ca. 1470-1550/ Revolutions, Translations, Imitations: Art in Early Sixteenth Century Rome.ÌýEach group hasÌýaround 8 students, meaning that the lectures during this term were smaller.ÌýI chose the RomeÌýoption, and in January we went on a 3-day field trip to the city. We were given a bursary to cover the cost of the trip and it was a great opportunity to see the artworks that we would be studying for the rest of the term in person and up close. The chance to see the city with a lecturer that specialises in research inÌýthis period was an invaluable experience.Ìý
For the rest of the second term, we had less lectures because weÌýnoÌýlonger had the core methodologyÌýmodule.ÌýThis gave us moreÌýtime to focus on the multiple assignments. I also took the opportunity to go to more talks that were held at the University and open to all students for free. The ‘Paintings Pairs’ project is a partnership between a History of Art student and a Conservation student, in which one studentÌýresearchesÌýtheÌýcontextÌýofÌý³Ù³ó±ðÌýchosenÌýpainting whilst the other student uses conservation and restoration techniques to discover more about itsÌýphysical properties. Although I was not part of this project, we had the opportunity to attend a lecture in which each pair discussed the research that they were conducting and this wasÌývery interesting.Ìý
TheÌýBusiness of Art societyÌýalso put on multiple talks this term. Firstly, I attended a talk by Kate Bryan – Art Historian, curator and Arts Broadcaster for Sky Arts. Bryan discussed her view on Feminism in art and particularly the percentage of artworks by female artists in permanent collections across the world. Hearing from a professional in the industry was a great opportunity. Secondly,ÌýI attendedÌýan interview between the Director of the Courtauld, Deborah Swallow,Ìýand Sir Charles Saumarez Smith CBE, previous director of The National Portrait Gallery, The National Gallery and Royal Academy of the Arts. I found it interesting to listen to these speakers talk about their careers, their links with The Courtauld andÌýadviceÌýthat theyÌýoffered to students hoping to begin a career in the arts sector.Ìý
Also during this term, we had the opportunity to visit the Prints and Drawing Room in The British Museum. Having never seen drawings like this in the flesh, it was fascinating to be able to view the drawingsÌýthat we had studiedÌýso closely. Visits to different art collections across England happen throughout the year and are a chance to apply what we have learnt in lectures.Ìý
A week in the second term generally looked like this:Ìý
Monday:Ìý
Library day working on assignmentsÌýÌý
Tuesday:ÌýÌý
4-6pm – Special option lectureÌýÌý
6pm-8pm – (sometimes) Research Forum or Business of Art society talksÌýÌý
Wednesday:ÌýÌý
Library dayÌýworking on assignmentsÌý
Thursday:ÌýÌý
4-6pm – Special option seminarÌýÌý
Friday:ÌýÌý
Library dayÌýworking on assignmentsÌýÌý
In this second term, we are given a lot of free time where we are not in lectures or seminars. This gives us plenty of time to conduct the research and write up our assignments, whilst some studentsÌýpreferÌýto get a part-time job on these days to balance alongside their studies. In the third term, we have tutorials every few weeks for our dissertation.ÌýThese are one-to-one tutorials, and we have no lectures as a group this term.ÌýÌý
I hope this gave you an idea of what a week studying on the MA History of Art course at The Courtauld would look like! Thank you for reading.Ìý