History of Art

Course Summaries UNIT ONE: British Period Study and Enquiry 1 hour 30 minutes exam, worth 25% of the whole. This paper, in two parts, tests analysis of issues relating to British history, as well as specific analysis of sources. We will offer studies of 13th century England, early 16th century England, and early 17th century England for this paper. UNIT TWO: Non-British Period Study 1 hour exam, three essays, worth 15% of the whole. This paper tests analysis of issues relating to European/Near Eastern history. There is no specific source component. We will offer studies of the Crusades, the French Revolution, and 19th century France for this paper.

UNIT THREE: Thematic Study and Historical Interpretations 2 hours 30 minutes exam, worth 40% of the whole. This paper tests the comprehension of broad historical themes across at least 100 years of History. We will offer themes relating to the European Renaissance and the British Empire. UNIT FOUR: Topic Based Essay Coursework: a 3000-4000 word essay on a subject of the candidate’s choice, usually connected with one of the outline papers, worth 20% of the whole.

History of Art: Pearson Edexcel 9HT0

History of Art is one of Marlborough’s truly distinctive offerings in Sixth Form. The largest History of Art department in any UK school has been delivering a subject full of discoveries and interest for many years, and enjoys a proud record of sending Marlburians on to read the subject at the best universities, including Oxbridge. History of Art is taught by specialists who are experts in their fields, with records of scholarly publishing, lecturing, exhibiting, and public examining. Moreover, the department is widely known for its atmosphere of friendliness and esprit de corps.

Our pupils do not need to have studied either History or Art, although many do, and the subject sits equally well with those who take English and Philosophy, Mathematics, the Sciences, or Languages. The chief prerequisite is to have a curiosity about the world and be prepared to study visual information closely and with an open mind. Our subject matter is concerned with the human impulse to make images, objects, and spaces that reflect beliefs, identities, hopes and fears. History of Art approaches human experience through the evidence of visual artefacts, whether paintings, sculptures, or buildings. In this context, the course covers social, religious, political and cultural history, the history of emotions, of dress, of gender, of the environment, of anthropology - and, of course, the detailed and forensic analysis of works themselves.

We study objects from around the world, offering global as well as local and national perspectives. We also place emphasis upon seeing the objects in the flesh, so an important part of our work involves trips to visit art in cultural centres, whether on study tours in Italy, France, or the Netherlands, or on shorter trips to London, Oxford, Cardiff, and elsewhere. Our aim is to open new intellectual terrain to our pupils and in so doing, promote their critical skills in aesthetic appreciation and cultural understanding. Wide reading and personal research are habits we foster to enrich and inform pupils’ writing.