Art History
What is Art History?
Art history is the study of the development and history of the visual arts, including painting, sculpture, architecture, and other forms of image-making. The field encompasses a broad range of approaches and subject matter, including the art of different cultures and periods, as well as the study of specific artists, genres, styles, and movements. Art history can be studied at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and many colleges and universities offer both degree programs and courses in art history.
Art History Resources
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
The classic illustrated introduction to the Greek gods, goddesses and heroes — a staple read-aloud in classical homeschool programs.
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art Experiences in the Styles of Great Masters
An award-winning hands-on art history curriculum featuring 60+ great artists with kid-tested activities that bring art movements to life.
The Virtual Window: From Alberti to Microsoft
As we spend more and more of our time staring at the screens of movies, televisions, computers, and handheld devices — “windows” full of moving images, texts, and icons — how the world is framed has become as important as what...
Neolithic art
The Neolithic Revolution was the most important development in human history. The way we live today—settled in cities, protected by laws, eating food from farms—dates from approximately 10,000 years ago....
Art in 19th century Europe
Art in 19th century Europe Explore Table of contents Topics Introduction—Becoming Modern Romanticism Early photography Victorian art and architecture The avant-garde: Realism, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Symbolism & Art Nouveau...
Native American art after 1600
Native societies across North American developed diverse material cultures that reflect the character of their regions and respond to the universal issues of human and spiritual existence....
Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical art in Europe
Get a head start on the historical developments that shape Baroque art in the Catholic Italy, Spain, Flanders, France and in the Protestant north....
Introduction to cultures and religions for the study of AP Art History
Explore Hinduism through clips of significant sites in South Asia and interviews with members of the Bay Area South Asian community. Learn more about Hinduism on t…...
Art of the Islamic world
Early Period (c. 640-900 C.E.) From the rightfully guided caliphs who succeeded Muhammad, through the Umayyads' Dome of the Rock and Great Mosque of Damascus, to the decline of Abbasids rule....
American Cinema
With insights from over 150 Hollywood insiders, this series explores modern American cinema and features over 300 clips from American movies. In-depth treatments present film as a powerful economic force, potent twentieth-century art form,...
Indigenous Americas
Art of the Indigenous Americas is among the world’s oldest artistic traditions. While its roots lie in northern Asia, it developed independently between c. 10,000 B.C.E. and 1492 C.E., which marked the beginning of the European invasions. Regions and...
Art of Mexico in the 19th century
The landscapes of José María Velasco and the first art school in the Americas, the Real Academia de San Carlos...