Themes at the National Galleries of Scotland: Treasures of the 15th to 17th Centuries

The National Gallery of Scotland holds one of the finest collections of fifteenth-, sixteenth-, and seventeenth-century paintings in the country. On this course you will examine a range of paintings and artists and consider how these wonderful treasures arrived in Scotland.

You will spend six weeks in the classroom learning about art and artists and four weeks of the course you will visit the Scottish National Gallery to view and discuss artworks on display there. Your course teacher will lead the tour of the gallery and run the viewing and discussion. Walking will be involved in the four weeks of gallery visits. The specific subject matter of what you will view and discuss will depend on what is currently being displayed at the time of the course running.

You will require access to a device with an internet connection. Recommended reading will be advised by the course tutor once the course is confirmed to run.

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to:

• Demonstrate a wide-ranging knowledge of the fifteenth- sixteenth- and seventeenth-century paintings held in the National Gallery of Scotland;
• Be familiar with the artists responsible for the work;
• Understand the role of the international art market in the dissemination of paintings.

This course is for those with little or no experience of art or art history.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+. If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.  Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s accessible and inclusive learning policy.

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support.

This course is suitable for those with no prior experience of university study.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Please note that the course booking deadline is 8 days before the course start date.