Eighteenth-century art and visual culture

Qualifications	Duration	Start dates	Application period
PhD (MPhil also available)	Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years	February and October	January to April

Qualifications PhD (MPhil also available)

Duration Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years

Start dates February and October

Application period January to April

The Department of Art History at The Open University welcomes proposals situated in 18th-century art, architecture and design; we take a broad view of the start and finish of this period, as themes emerge from the late 1600s and develop into the 1800s. The global impact of maritime trade and colonialism is a key area of interest across this period, as is the shifting relationships between artists and their patrons and the growth of towns and cities.

We are particularly interested in aspects of the English country house and its landscape, domestic space's visual and material culture, and French visual culture. The impact of the eighteenth century on subsequent Revival movements in the history of style is also important, as well as how visual and material culture was reworked in subsequent periods.

We welcome proposals in areas that correspond with current staff research interests.

Entry requirements

A UK Masters’ degree or equivalent level in a relevant subject (art, architecture or design history), or exceptionally a First Class undergraduate degree with a substantial dissertation. If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

Potential research projects

We welcome applications to study topics that complement our current research.

Current/recent research projects

We are particularly interested in aspects of the English country house and its landscape, domestic space's visual and material culture, and French visual culture. The impact of the eighteenth century on subsequent Revival movements in the history of style is also important, as well as how visual and material culture was reworked in subsequent periods.

Potential supervisors

• Dr Emma Barker – French and British art of the 18th and 19th centuries
• Dr Clare Taylor – 18th-century
• Dr Susie West – 17th- and 18th-century architecture and material culture

Fees and funding

PhD fees

UK fee	International fee
Full-time: £4,786 per year	Full-time: £12,146 per year
Part-time: £2,393 per year	Part-time: £6,073 per year

Some of our research students are funded via the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

Links

• Art History at The Open University