Art History Schools and Programs in Italy

Art History Studies in Italy

Florence, Italy, SourceArt is both informative and it deceives. It makes us question ourselves and art such as what is art and what is its significance to human beings? Who are the creators of art? What are the grounds and technical and cognitive procedures for its being? How do outsiders view a certain work? All these questions are addressed in many art courses one of them being art history. If art is your passion, this one of the courses you can pursue and if you are interested in pursuing the course abroad, Italy is the best option.

Italy has numerous museums, churches, archaeological sites, and contemporary art galleries thus offering an environment that has unparalleled affluence for the study of art. Studying art history in Italy will be a wonderful way for you to blend travel together with your zeal for the course and historical development of different objects of art. As a student, you will get to take in different styles and genres of painting, sculptures, architecture, museums and monuments in a nation that has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other nation in the whole world. You will also obtain good academic credits and at the same time enjoy Italian culture and language.

If interested in pursuing the course in Italy, read on below to find more about the course in the country, the universities that offer the course and the employment opportunities for art history graduates.

What is Art History?

Art history can be understood as the division of history science that does research on the advancement of art throughout history from different cultures, perspectives, and regions of the world. The discipline categorizes and attempts to understand the meanings of the different works of art and decipher encrypted messages. The course also explains the socio-political role played by art throughout history. It is also important to note that the study of art history is not only about architecture, paintings, and sculptures, but also film, animation, photography and decorative arts.

Art History in Italy

Italy is often referred to as the birthplace of naturalistic arts, modern humanism, and scientific inquiry. It is also the home of Renaissance civilization and the place where famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Botticelli, and Brunelleschi changed the way we view the world. This makes Italy the best place for students interested in pursuing an art history course. Studying art history in Italy is often viewed as an interactive textbook. This is because besides taking formal classroom subjects, students also get the chance to see for themselves the works of art being taught in class. You get the opportunity to see the works of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci in their original settings, or visit the leaning tower of Pisa and many other sites.

The art history course intends to develop and stimulate the personal creativity of the students and provides them with the needed technical expertise and also the theoretical insights that are essential for the development of artistic talent. The course provides the students with a survey of the western art and a lot of in-depth studies. Besides the needed art history course work, students can also pursue another discipline such as studio art, Italian Language, Literature, or History. Most universities offer their students with the needed tools to enter the job market which is quite competitive.

As an art history student, you can decide to combine other courses such as business and economics. This is applicable for students who wish to work in financial companies since most of them invest in art which is considered to be an economic asset. Studying art history can also lead to a deeper understanding of law especially is you are pursuing studies related to the laws in the field of art for instance, repatriation, reproductive rights and inheritance.

There are about 35 Italian universities that offer this course at all levels- undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate. Some of the universities you could consider include the John Cabot University, the American University of Rome, Studio Arts College International, Florence University of the Arts, Marist University, Accademia Europa di Firenze, and Milano Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti just to mention a few. The main courses in art history offered are in Cultural Heritage, Technologies for the Conservation and Restoration, Communications in art markets and culture, and cultural heritage for tourism among others. The course often begins with a first year for all students where they are taught the basics. It is then split in different sections that cover different types of cultural heritage such as archaeological, artistic, historical, archive and library.

Students can pursue their internships in a number of institutions across the country. Some of them include the Galleria Doris Pamphilj, Museo Nazionale Romano, and the biblioteca Angelica. This gives the students first-hand experience and in the labour market and also increases their employment opportunities.

Work opportunities for art history graduates

The art history curriculum prepares the students for a number of art history centred careers. The curriculum is well versified in the international art business, and it teaches learners the art skills required to pursue a career in art history. The universities prepare their students for careers in this field by making use of the country’s rich history in the arts as they apply both historical and theoretical context to create a better understanding of a work of art.

Graduates can work as art gallery managers, art buyers, archivists, art investors, curators, museum educators, college professors, or as cultural officers in the diplomatic corps, just to mention a few. The skills acquired in the course such as critical and analytical thinking and effective writing offers the students excellent preparation for careers in secondary education, law, media, marketing, journalism, and other numerous creative vocations.

Take this opportunity today to pursue this course in Italy and get to enjoy an awesome academic experience. Besides that, get to enjoy the country’s amazing culture and foods and get to visit remarkable historical sites that are a definite plus to your course.