American Fine and Decorative Art, New York

The skills of connoisseurship are emphasised and developed in this programme, which also fosters an enhanced understanding of art history as it relates to the cultural, historical and stylistic significance of works of art.

Paintings, furniture and decorative objects from the colonial period through to the modernist movements of the first half of the twentieth century are studied in museum-based sessions, visits to conservation studios, object-handling workshops, technical discussions and regional study trips.

Comprehensive lectures and seminars on American collecting, patronage, museum curatorship and the art market; discussions of issues such as damage and restoration; recognition and analysis of fakes, forgeries and reproduced art objects; and a comparison of the historical systems of workshops and art production to the structure of today’s art market constitute the course of study.

Upon graduation, most students in this programme are interested in assuming a responsible professional position in the field of American art. The programme prepares students to achieve this goal by providing a synthesis of the theoretical and practical aspects of topics and issues pertaining to the field, thereby advancing the student’s progress toward the level of expertise required for success in the professional art world.