Newsweek magazine recently called London “the coolest city on the planet” and for good reason: it is hard to imagine a more stimulating environment for American students abroad. In particular, London is unrivaled worldwide for the number and quality of its art treasures and architecture. Therefore all classes on this program are taught on site so that we can explore first-hand the best that the city has to offer. Field trips outside the capital and participation in theatrical, musical, and other cultural events complement an incomparably rich experience.
The course on London museums considers a wide range of institutions, from big national collections, like the British Museum and the National Gallery, both a short walk from the FSU London Study Centre, to small personal gems like Sir John Soane’s Museum. Comprising both indigenous and foreign art, London’s collections were initially formed by the Crown and the aristocracy, then by cultivated gentlemen returning from the Grand Tour in Italy, and finally by bankers and entrepreneurs. In many cases the art works are exhibited in the magnificent mansions where they were originally installed. Auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s have contributed to two centuries of art commerce, while in the last decade London’s contemporary art scene has been invigorated by the opening of the Tate Modern and the proliferation of gallery venues across east and south London. We study objects from all periods, and consider issues regarding display, conservation, education, and scholarship.
The class on the architecture of London surveys some two thousand years of construction, from ancient Roman Londinium to recent Post-Modern designs. Students explore methods for understanding and enjoying buildings, using London as a base, and they study major styles and their relationships to the social and political history of the city through visits to a variety of buildings, including Gothic churches, Georgian houses, and Edwardian department stores. Students examine the future as well as the past, as the cityscape continues to evolve in response to the millennial celebration and anticipation of the Olympics in 2012. Using the new design for London Group , which oversees the creation of world-class architecture and sustainable design as their model, students have the opportunity to assess the new directions in which this global art capital is moving.
Eligibility
This program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in art history.
Housing
Students stay in furnished apartments in the FSU London Study Centre or in comparable accommodations within central London. For information about London and the Study Centre, click here. Overnight guests are not allowed in program housing. For a list of hotels near the campus, please click here.
Areas of Study:
•Art History
•Museum Studies
