Art History

This Art History elective, taught in connection with the Humanities sequence, teaches students how to closely examine great works of art. The course presents a chronological survey of art history from prehistoric to modern times, using the aesthetic values of classical art as an objective standard for evaluating beauty. Students become familiar with these criteria and apply them as they study significant works throughout history, learning to evaluate art not merely by personal opinion but according to the perennial standards of the classical tradition. Students visit local museums and museums in the places they visit on their annual Odyssey serving as docents for their classmates and teachers as they view the masterpieces they have studied firsthand.