Tudor art and its setting

Aims

This course aims to: 

• give you a greater knowledge of the art and architecture of Tudor England 
   
• help you to understand how the setting for the display of art can alter its meaning
   
• enable you to evaluate the cultural, social and political influences that drove these changes

Content

In Tudor England, where an artwork was viewed was almost as important as what it showed. In this course we will explore six venues for the display of art from 1485 to 1603, tracing the blurred lines between the public and the personal, the political and the religious. We will look inside the artist’s workshop, seeing how artists framed themselves and their work, from the jobbing regional painter to the court artisan. We will uncover the increasing use of visual art and display by members of the Middling Sort, as they sought to navigate their new-found identities in a changing social landscape. And we will consider the great arts of the Tudor court: in the tilting yard and the long gallery, exploring how the arts of painting, sculpture, armour, engraving, tapestry and embroidery came together to express powerful messages on behalf of their patrons.

Presentation of the course 

Each session consists of an illustrated lecture discussing major artworks, themes and interpretations, with time for wider class discussion towards the end.

Course sessions

1. Introduction: Tudor Art and its settings
   In this introductory session we consider the historical, cultural and architectural context of visual art in the Tudor period.
    
2. Dynastic Display in the Long Gallery (and Garden)
   This session focuses on the use of art in the aristocratic home, notably in the long gallery and in the garden. This is not limited to portraits, but also includes more ambitious aspects of interior decoration, including wall paintings, indoor sculptures and fountains, and their interaction with architecture.
    
3. Words and Whitewash in the Church
   Here we explore the art of the church before and after the Reformation, revealing the profound effects that religious change had on the visual experience of the parish.
    
4. Pigments and Punches in the Artist’s Workshop
   In this session we consider the evidence for the creation of artworks in Tudor England, what artists had to say for themselves, and to what extent these practices set England apart from mainstream continental art of the same period.
    
5. Civic Virtues in the Great Hall
   In this session we consider the use of art by the Middling Sort, including portraits and heraldry, and the moral dimensions of artistic display in Tudor England.

Learning outcomes

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course. 

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• to be able to recognise a range of Tudor artworks, well-known and lesser known
   
• to understand the social, political, cultural and artistic influences that created them
   
• to explore the impact that setting could have on the meaning of an artwork

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.