Jessica Fahy Art Historian

The United Kingdom under the reign of Queen Victorian (r.1837-1901) saw an unprecedented amount of change in society and this can be explored through the wonderful variety of art produced. In fact, art as we know it changed in many ways as it became part of a popular culture influenced by the masses and not the elite. The invention of photography had a significant impact on the perception of the world and increased the access to images for a great part of society than ever before. Furthermore, art as advertisement emerges leading to a complicating of the function, appreciation and value of art and a perceived distinction between low and high forms of art. During this 10-week course we will examine these shifts and place art in the context of the world that produced it from science and technological advancements to new styles of literature and poetry to crime and punishments and entertainments like freak shows, traveling panoramas and the Great Exhibition. We will look at the understanding of race and gender, the public and private lives of people from all classes, those who made millions and those who died of starvation due to poverty and famine while Britain became the first industrial empire. Artists covered include Turner, Constable, Landseer, Millais, Rossetti and the spirit paintings of Georgiana Houghton. The last class will be a visit to the National Gallery of Ireland to discuss its founding and the Victorian art in the collection.

Victorian Art and Culture Part Two will begin in January 2023