Art History
Works of art in all media (painting, sculpture, architecture, graphic media including printmaking, drawing, photography and time-based arts) are of interest to the art historian.


Curate your experience
Art History is a discipline within the humanities that examines the history of works of art in the broadest possible context. Investigate the world’s monuments and images from a variety of perspectives, ranging from physical examination of the works of art themselves, to biographical inquiries into the lives of artists, to research on the social, political, and historical contexts within which works of art are made.
Programs in Art History
Bachelor of Arts in Art History
The B.A. in Art History prepares students for a variety of experiences ranging from graduate school and careers in college-level teaching and research, to curatorial work in museums and galleries. As a well-rounded program of study, an art history major can also lead to careers in archaeology, restoration and conservation, anthropology, religious studies, art education, and criticism. Moreover, art history majors learn detailed visual analysis, critical thinking, and written and oral communication, skills that lead readily to studies in law and business.
See Undergraduate Catalog for Details
Courses
ARTH 172 – Western Art: Ancient–Medieval (3 credits)
Major monuments in Western art with emphasis on Europe from antiquity through the Middle Ages. Satisfies General Education Requirement: (AH).
ARTH 173 – Western Art: Renaissance–Contemporary (3 credits)
Major monuments in the history of European and American art from the Renaissance to the present. Satisfies General Education Requirement: (AH).
ARTH 183 – Asian Art (3 credits)
Selected major monuments of South and East Asian art (archaeological material, sculpture, architecture, painting, prints) in their social, political, and religious contexts. Satisfies General Education Requirement: (AH).
ARTH 375 – Seminar in Art History I (3 credits)
Seminar for majors. Introduction to the practice and methodology of art history. Writing-emphasis course. Recommended Background: 9 hours of art history courses, 3 of which must be upper-division. Registration Restriction(s): Art history majors and minors only or consent of instructor.
ARTH 402 – Seminar in Art History II (3 credits)
Seminar for majors. Builds on 375 but with an emphasis on research and effective written and oral presentation. Capstone class. Satisfies General Education Requirement: (WC).
ARTH 411 – Art: South/Southeast Asia (3 credits)
Survey of the art and architecture of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The major achievements of each period are examined in relation to their religious, political, and social contexts. Writing-emphasis course.
ARTH 416 – 20th & 21st Century Art (3 credits)
Survey of Chinese art from the late 19th century through the present. Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and expatriate artists are also considered. Writing-emphasis course.
ARTH 419 – Art of Japan (3 credits)
This is a survey of the history of Japanese art from the earliest ceramic-producing cultures to the woodblock prints of the 19th century. It covers the introduction of Buddhism to Japan from mainland Asia and traces the development of Buddhist architecture, sculpture, painting and practice throughout the pre-modern period, with a strong emphasis on Zen Buddhism and its influence on tea ceremony, ceramics and secular arts. We look at architecture, sculpture and painting associated with the native religion of Shinto, but also the many ways that Japan absorbed influences from Korea and China and transformed these into something uniquely Japanese. Coursework includes three exams and two short papers.
ARTH 421 – Greek Art (3 credits)
Achievements of Greek art in architectural decoration, sculpture, minor arts, and painting from their beginnings in the Geometric period, through the Classical periods of the fifth century BC, to their dissemination during the Hellenistic period across the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Near East. Special emphasis on stylistic developments, the contributions of known artists, and the relationship between art and various aspects of Greek life and thought.
ARTH 425 – Early Christian/Byzantine Art (3 credits)
Art in Italy and the Eastern Empire from the beginnings of Christian art to c. 1350. Mosaic and painting, sculpture and architecture. Writing-emphasis course. (Same as Judaic Studies 426 and Middle East Studies 425.)
ARTH 451 – Art of Italy, 1250-1450 (3 credits)
ARTH 451 – Art of Italy, 1250-1450 (3 credits)
ARTH 452 – Art of Italy, 1450-1575 (3 credits)
Concentrated study of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael, Pontormo, and Giorgione. Writing-emphasis course.
ARTH 470 – African-American Art (3 credits)
Traces the artistic and social legacy of African American art from the eighteenth century to the present day. Specifically, this class will focus on the ways in which artists used creativity to confront, deny, or complicate understandings of racial identity and racism. Examines broad scope of artistic production including painting, sculpture, photography, multi-media, fiction writing, and video art. Writing-emphasis course. (Same as Africana Studies 471.)
ARTH 472 – 20th Century American Art (3 credits)
Developments in architecture, painting, and design from 1900. Writing-emphasis course.
ARTH 473 – 19th Century American Art (3 credits)
Examines painting, sculpture, and print culture from the Revolutionary War to the turn of the 20th century. Writing-emphasis course.
ARTH 473 – 20th Century Painting and Sculpture of Europe (3 credits)
Development of the Modern and Post-Modern movements in Europe. Investigation of the progression of abstraction through more recent conceptual trends. Analysis of the work of individual artists such as Picasso, Matisse, and many others. Writing-emphasis course.
Minor in Art History
We make it easy for undergraduate students to take art history classes while pursuing another field of study. Contact the School of Art office to declare an art history minor: (865) 974-3407
Requirements
Prerequisites
Complete (grade of C or better):
- ARTH 172 – Western Art: Ancient through Medieval *
- ARTH 173 – Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary *
Select one course (grade of C or better): - ARTH 162 – Art of Africa, Oceania, and Pre-Columbian America *
- ARTH 183 – Asian Art *
Required Courses
Complete (grade of C or better):
- ARTH 375 – Seminar in Art History I
Select 12 hours (grade of C or better): - any Art History courses numbered 200 and above (ARTH)
- Meets University General Education Requirement.
Recommendations
Undergraduate work in art history is enhanced by knowledge of at least one foreign language and by additional studio art experience. Graduate work normally requires reading knowledge of German, of French, or of other languages appropriate to an area specialization.
Faculty





Tim Hiles
Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies
Area of Study: Art History





Art History News
- Kimberly D. Iles Scholarship Awards – 2023
- Sean Roberts Book Published by Yale Press
- Lyons Explains Vernacular Art in The Conversation
- Art History Student to Attend Conservation Workshop
- Sam Yates Study Room Dedication
- Kelli Wood Receives Early Career Excellence in Research and Creative Achievement Award
- 76th Annual Student Art Competition Awards
- Llhuros Symposium Videos Available
- CONTEMPORARY ART + FASHION + MILAN with Joshua Bienko
- Gallery 1010 Spring 2023 Application Now Open
- “Our Tennessee” Celebrates UT Libraries’ Beauford Delaney Collection
- Neil Greenberg Offers Art & Organism Course
Art History Resources
The UT Libraries faculty with expertise in Art have created research guides to Art, Art Education, Digital Humanities, Images and Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and a list of databases that include scholarly work or images of art and architecture.
ARTStor contains more than one million digital images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and sciences.
Resources on Campus
The University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Honors Programs
The website of the UT Honors Program details honors courses, types of scholar programs, and respective degree programs.
The Programs Abroad Office
The Programs Abroad Office organizes and promotes UT’s Study Abroad opportunities.
Local Museums
The Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture
Begun in 1981, the Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture is a professionally managed university gallery, funded jointly by the Department of Art and the School of Architecture.
The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture
The McClung Museum is a general museum with collections in anthropology, archaeology, decorative arts, local history, and natural history.
Knoxville Museum of Art
The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) celebrates the art and artists of East Tennessee, presents new art and new ideas, educates and serves a diverse community, and enhances Knoxville’s quality of life.
Professional Organizations
The American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance of Museums (formerly the American Association of Museums) advocates and supports all museums. AAM maintains a database of employment listings in the museum world.
College Art Association
CAA includes among its members those who by vocation or avocation are concerned about and/or committed to the practice of art, teaching, and research of and about the visual arts and humanities. CAA maintains the largest database of employment listings in the art and academic worlds.
Graduate Study
Graduate Record Examinations
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required by most graduate schools in art history. This website has information about preparation, registration, and what to expect when you take the test.
Peterson’s Online Guide to Graduate Programs
This website provides information about choosing a graduate program and applying for admission and financial aid.