5-Day Intensive

Art History: Key Concepts

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Date
November 10 – 14, 2025
Time
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM GMT
Duration
5 Days
Location
London
Program
5-Day Intensive
Mode of Learning
In-Person
Price
Price
£1950
Language
English
Topic
Art History
Contact Admissions

+44 (0)20 7462 3232 +1 646-438-7268 shortcourses@sia.edu

This course examines Western art history with a timeline spanning two and a half millennia, starting in the 5th century BCE with the classical tradition of Ancient Greece and continuing through to the Post-War period up to the radical art movements of the 1970s.

Participants will visit the major museums and galleries of London to understand the key artistic movements in front of the physical artworks. This unique opportunity will provide students with the context to understand how these movements evolved throughout history.

While the course will focus mainly on Western art, participants will be exposed to global contexts as well. Content is predominantly focused on painting and sculpture, yet it will also cover applied arts and architecture. Participants can expect to gain practical and intellectual skills from expert art scholars, such as how to conduct a visual analysis of an artwork, which will be of use beyond the walls of the classroom.

Students who complete this course are eligible to receive a partial tuition fee waiver equivalent to $2,000 USD if they subsequently enroll in one of our Master’s Degree Programs at our New York, London, or Online locations (pending application and acceptance to the Master’s Degree program). For further details, please see our Student Policies.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of changes in art making from ancient Greece to the contemporary period in terms of materials, methods and ways of seeing
  • Recognise that Western art is only one type of production within global artmaking
  • Consider art within the wider context of circulation, curation, display, and consumption
  • Understand broad theories or philosophies of art, as well as being able to competently discuss and communicate responses to artworks
  • Apply knowledge about art to the historical, cultural and economic context, and vice versa

Highlights

Specialized Art World Knowledge

Build critical thinking skills and gain in-depth insight into key topics shaping today’s global art market.

Designed for Every Art World Path

Varying formats for art enthusiasts, students, working professionals, or those considering a career pivot.

Career-Focused Content

Develop practical skills and industry understanding to support career development in an array of fields.

Sample Schedule

Day 1

Begin your exploration of the key movements in art history through a fundamental lecture on Classicism in ancient Greece. Visit the Victoria & Albert Museum to study objects up close.

Day 2

Discover the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods through a visit to the National Gallery.

Day 3

Pick up from the Baroque period with an exploration of the Wallace Collection. Study art of the Enlightenment and the emergence of Neoclassicism, calling back to the Greek and Roman eras.

Day 4

Visit the Courtauld Collection and Tate Britain to study their vast collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and British art.

Day 5

Wrap up the course with all the ‘isms’ from the avant-garde to the post-war period at Tate Modern.

Faculty

Course Leader, Summer Program, London

Viv Lawes is an author, journalist, lecturer and curator with over 25 years’ experience in the art market, combining an extensive hands-on career in art business with academic research and teaching in Higher Education, Continuing Education, and public-facing organisations. Viv studied History at York University and graduated with an MA in Fine and Decorative Art from Sotheby’s Institute in 1997, where her thesis focused on the textile trade between England and India/China in the 17th and 18th centuries.

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Details

Sample Topics

  • The Classical Tradition
  • Old Masters
  • Late Medieval
  • Renaissance and Baroque Art
  • From the Baroque to Naturalism Impressionism
  • Post-Impressionism and British Art Cubism
  • Surrealism and Futurism

Course Completion

Course participants take away in-depth and valuable insight into the current and future art world, to be sufficiently prepared for a wide-ranging career within the art industry. Those who successfully complete their course will receive a certificate of completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art course participants come from all over the world, from a wide variety of backgrounds. As they study, travel, and explore the art world alongside each other throughout the program, fierce and long-lasting collaborations are frequently born. Individuals who complete these courses join our network of over 8,000 alumni around the globe who hold top positions at renowned art organizations.

Students who complete this course are eligible to receive a partial tuition fee waiver equivalent to $2,000 USD if they subsequently enroll in one of our Master’s Degree Programs at our New York, London, or Online locations (pending application and acceptance to the Master’s Degree program). For further details, please see our Student Policies.

Requirements

English Language Requirement
Course participants should be proficient in written and spoken English and be able to participate in group discussions and presentations in English. It is recommended that participants have the equivalent level of IELTS score of 6.0 /TOEFL score of 78 IBT, however evidence of test scores is not required to register.

Age Requirement
Courses are open to participants 18 years of age or older, however, we prefer that students have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience to be able to properly engage in the course.

For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.

Book A Consultation

We encourage interested individuals to book a consultation time with a member of our admissions team to learn more about this course and our registration process.

Please use this link to book a consultation time via phone or video call.

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