Department of Art History

Johann Zoffany, The Tribuna of the Uffizi, c. 1772-77
What do our students do with an art history degree?

Beth Ann Barresi '95 completed a master's degree in arts restoration at the University of London and now specializes in the transportation of art objects at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Colleen Carroll '85 is the author of the "Artists Look at..." children's books on art, published by the Abbeville Press.

Tom Gitterman '90 is director of the Gitterman Gallery in New York City.

Rachelle Giard '06 is a Peace Corps member in Morocco.

Renée Miller '03 is administrative and board assistant at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.

Camilo Prates '01 installs exhibits, writes catalogue entries, and translates catalogues and other publications from Portuguese to English for Arte Futura Gallery in Brasilia.

Heidi Treuenfels '93 works on exhibitions and funding at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C.

Azhar Tyabji '03 is an urban planner with the Indian Environmental Planning Collaborative, specializing in the reconstruction of cities around the world struck by disasters -- natural or political.

Welcome to the Department of Art History website.

Our department provides students with a rich and rigorous foundation in the study of art and its history, as well as an understanding of the fundamental importance of artistic and architectural expression in the study of human cultures and histories. We aim to sharpen students' perception of visual images in a world where ideas and information are increasingly communicated through visual media. In the process, we deepen students' understanding of history in general.

The art history major offers more than 40 courses, ranging from introductory to advanced and representing a variety of historical periods and cultural perspectives. A concentration in architectural history provides focus for students interested in urban design, landscape architecture, historic preservation, or architectural design.

The department offers a number of exciting resources:

  • The visual resource collection contains over 145,000 slides and digital images.
  • An advanced technology classroom, funded through a major grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation, provides an environment for multimedia and digital image study.
  • The Handwerker Gallery is an important part of both campus life and the department.
  • Internships and fieldwork opportunities, as well as the Ithaca College London Center, provide off-campus experience in the fields of art and architectural history and gallery studies.
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