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Art is a language that reaches across history and across cultures.
Art History
What role has art played in the evolution of human culture? Why are we drawn to create art? How does art express meaning, arouse controversies, shape our ways of seeing the world? These are the kinds of questions explored through the study of art history.
A unique perspective: The art history curriculum develops an understanding and appreciation of the rich history of artistic expression from ancient cultures to modern times. Art History also provides a strong complement to other areas of study such as history, studio arts, sociology/anthropology and classical studies.
The liberal arts benefit: An interdisciplinary major, art history draws upon the many resources of R-MC's liberal arts curriculum, allowing students to draw connections between these disciplines. In a paper that won the art history writing competition in the statewide Insights Student Symposium sponsored by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, art history major Lauren Knabel '10 examined early 20th-century Southern history and culture through the political cartoons of the African American cartoonist George H. Ben Johnson
Beyond R-MC: Recent graduates of R-MC's Art History program can be found in graduate study at the Corcoran College of Art & Design and the University of London and in secondary and higher education, museum studies, nonprofit, law, advertising, graphic design and architecture.
| "I cannot speak highly enough about R-MC."
With a master's degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Anne West Kesner '09 brings "a passion for sharing the love that I know God has blessed us all with" to her new role as resident chaplain at Norfolk Sentara Hospital. A Bailey Scholar at R-MC, Anne pursued a double-major in religious studies and art history as well as a minor in classical studies while also finding time to take part in a J-term trip to Brazil and two different internships. "R-MC prepared me educationally, socially and psychologically beyond what I ever could have imagined," she says. "The faculty were truly passionate about teaching to us rather than at us, and they expected us to learn by ourselves—they truly wanted us to understand the material, wrestle with it, and grow from it." Thanks to her R-MC education, says Anne, "I am confident in my abilities to continually learn, ask questions, and seek knowledge. If you go into R-MC and really dive head first into its activities and education, you will not only gain a fantastic education but also develop lifelong skills and lifelong friends."
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