Course Catalogue

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This multidisciplinary course examines portraiture in sixteenth-century Spain, when Spanish power and influence extended across much of Europe and the 'New World', and artists and trade brought new materials and techniques, as well as exchange of ideas on the role of the painter, the function of portraits, who should be represented and how. We study the portrait styles of artists such as El Greco, Sánchez Coello and Sofonisba Anguissola and their changing artistic reputations over time. The course draws on recent research led by the University of Glasgow and, wherever possible, includes visits and case studies of portraits in the Stirling Maxwell Collections in Glasgow Museums, and the Hunterian Art Gallery.

10 x 1 hr lecture as scheduled on MyCampus

10 x 1 hr seminar as scheduled on MyCampus

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into MA History of Art, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation

None

None

Group Presentation (15 minutes) - 10%

Essay (2000 words) - 50%

Exam (1 hr) - 40%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ Present Spanish portraiture within artistic and historical contexts of Spain and Europe, including the 'New World', in the sixteenth-century

■ Examine the role, status and training of artists at this period in Spain, including with reference to self-portrayal, artistic patronage and workshop practice 

■ Analyse artistic style and techniques by leading portrait painters

■ Offer research-led teaching of case studies of portraits in Glasgow collections

■ Introduce the disciplines of Technical Art History and History of Dress and Textiles, and show how they can combine with Art History

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify and discuss major artists and artworks covered in the course

■ Assess the significance of wider artistic and historical contexts in relation to portraiture in Spain, including issues such as Spanish colonialism, slavery, and the implications of the term 'New World' 

■ Critically evaluate sources on portraiture in Spain in this period

■ Appraise methodologies of approaches and disciplines covered in this course

■ Demonstrate critical engagement with key themes covered in the course, through oral and written assignments appropriate to Honours level and established scholarly conventions.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.