Art History is the study of the visual arts in civilization. It
examines changing values in all fields of visual culture,
including painting, sculpture, graphics, photography,
architecture, film, the mass media, and forms of popular
expression. Its interdisciplinary reach encompasses literature,
history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, gender studies,
critical theory, and cultural studies. Art History emphasizes
visual as well as verbal and written literacy, providing more
than the standard advantages to a liberal arts education.
Students majoring in Art History will engage with the
wide-ranging opportunities its curriculum presents for learning
and research. Studying Art History develops visual
literacy, communication skills, critical/creative thinking and an
understanding of diversity.
Sculpture Collections in Europe and the United States
1500-1930: Variety and Ambiguity includes a chapter
contribution — “Porcelain as Sculpture: Medium, Materiality, and
the Categories of Eighteenth-Century Collecting” — by Professor
Michael Yonan.
Michael Yonan, Professor of Art History and the Alan
Templeton Endowed Chair in the History of European Art, recently
published an article in Materia: Journal of Technical Art
History entitled “Technical Art History and the Art
Historical Thing.”
Professor Talinn Grigor, chair of Art History, has just launched
her most recent book The Persian Revival: The
Imperialism of the Copy in Iranian and Parsi Architecture.
This book, published by Penn State University Press, will
be released July 8.
The Courtauld Institute in London recently conducted a panel
discussion on “Post-conflict: Art History and Cultural Heritage
in Dialogue” which featured Professors Heghnar Watenpaugh and
Talinn Grigor.
The 2021 Arts & Humanities Graduate Exhibition,
hosted virtually by the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem
Museum of Art, showcases the work and research of graduate
students across various disciplines including art
history, art studio, design, and music among them.
