Online Courses: Art History
History of art courses are generally taught at university,
and are designed to develop skills in art scholarship.
Many of those graduating will have little experience
of actually handling a paintbrush, though they go
on — usually after a second degree — to
hold important positions in galleries, museums,
newspapers and art magazines. Why should the oil
painter be interested in such academic disciplines?
For
several reasons. In the first place, the art history
is important and fascinating. You will understand
(as the art expert may not) exactly how Dutch interiors
were painted in the 17th century, but that understanding
will be greatly enriched by a knowing something
of the social and economic setting, and the reasons
why certain artists are ranked above others. In
the second place, you will sooner or later have
to deal with critics and gallery owners, and it
will help enormously to speak their language. Thirdly,
art being so contentious today, you need to appreciate
the arguments by which contemporary art is praised
at the expense of traditional painting. The arguments
may be wrong-headed, but they are not entirely empty
word-spinning. And, finally, understanding what's
been tried before will suggest new avenues, and
save you from turning out pastiches.
