History of the Fine and Decorative Arts (Ranger's House, Greenwich)

Course Title:  History of the Fine and Decorative Arts (Ranger's House)
Type of Course: Adult Education
Credit: Not credit-bearing

Weekly Session Titles

1. Introduction: The Ranger's House and Decorative Arts
2. The Georgian Interior: Classicism, Proportion, and Display
3. The Grand Tour and the Rise of the Collector
4. Neoclassicism and the Influence of Antiquity
5. Objects in Focus I: Neoclassical and Georgian Objects
6. The Art of Furniture: Function, Ornament, and Fashion
7. Porcelain, Silver, and the Luxury Object
8. The Wernher Collection: Global Objects and Imperial Contexts
9. Romanticism and the Picturesque in the Decorative Arts
10. Objects in Focus II: 18th–Early 19th Century Decorative Arts
11. Women, Interiors, and the Decorative Arts
12. Art in the Home: Middle-Class Taste and Popular Design
13. Collectors and Collections: From Private House to Public Museum
14. Objects in Focus III: Independent Research Presentations
15. The Afterlife of the Decorative Arts: Preservation, Heritage, and Interpretation

Course Overview

This course offers a wide-ranging introduction to the history of the fine and decorative arts from the Georgian period through to the end of the 19th century. Using the interiors, architecture, and collections of the Ranger’s House in Greenwich as a central case study, the course is an opportunity to discover the stylistic principles of historic fine and decorative arts whilst also exploring the changing relationships between art, design, and domestic space.

Participants will investigate the evolution of style, craftsmanship, and taste through a variety of objects, including furniture, ceramics, textiles, silver, and paintings. Emphasis will be placed on understanding art in context—how these objects were made, used, and displayed, and what they reveal about the wider cultural and social histories of their time.

The Georgian villa now known as the Ranger’s House houses highlights from the Wernher Collection, one of the most significant private collections of fine and decorative art in Britain. These objects provide vivid examples of artistic and material culture from across Europe and beyond, and will feature prominently in class discussion. The Wernher Collection also highlights some of the ethical issues faced by museum curators and country house guardians in displaying and contextualising historic collections.

Through a series of Objects in Focus sessions during the course you will have the opportunity to research and present objects of your choice, encouraging individual exploration and group discussion.

This course is ideal for anyone with an interest in art history, historic interiors, collecting, curatorship or material culture.

Previous Experience (if any)
None required.

Required Reading Material or Special Equipment Needed (if any)
None required.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, you will be better prepared to:

• understand the historical development of fine and decorative arts in Britain and Europe from the Georgian period to the 19th century, and how these arts reflected changing cultural values, tastes, and social contexts.
• identify the key materials, techniques, and stylistic features of objects such as furniture, ceramics, textiles, and silver, and interpret their function, symbolism, and use within historic interiors.
• appreciate the roles of collectors, makers, and patrons in shaping the visual and material culture of the period, and critically reflect on the legacy and interpretation of these objects today.

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Teaching and Learning Approach

The course combines tutor-led discussions, visual presentations, and on-site observations within the Ranger's House to provide an engaging and contextual learning experience. Participants are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and analyses of the material culture of the Georgian house. The approach accommodates diverse learning styles and fosters an inclusive environment that values the experiences and perspectives of all attendees.​

Additional Information

This course descriptor may be subject to change during the delivery of the course, depending on the specific direction and nature of the learner cohort, and is intended to be responsive to group dynamics as they emerge during the delivery of the course.