Italian and History of Art

Italian and art history together open onto one of the richest cultural relationships in the world. Italy produced some of the most significant works of visual art in human history, from the mosaics of Ravenna and the frescoes of Giotto to the Renaissance masterpieces of Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael, and the modernist provocations of Futurism. To study the history of art seriously is often, in part, to engage with Italian visual culture and the historical contexts in which it was made.

To study Italian is to gain access to a vast literary and cultural tradition, from Dante and Petrarch to the contemporary novel, as well as to the social and political history of a country that has been central to European civilisation for two millennia. Studied together at degree level, the two disciplines reinforce each other powerfully.

At University College London, this four-year programme allows you to develop fluency in Italian to an advanced level while pursuing the history of art across a broad range of periods, media, and geographical contexts. In Italian you will read literature in the original language and engage with the culture, history, and society of the Italian-speaking world from the medieval period to the present. In art history you will develop skills in visual analysis, historiography, and the interpretation of objects within their social, political, and intellectual contexts.

UCL's location in London and its strong connections to the museum and gallery world provide excellent resources for art historical study.

Graduates of this combination pursue careers in museums and galleries, auction houses, arts administration, cultural heritage, and conservation. Publishing, journalism, and work with cultural organisations in Italy or with Italian cultural institutions in Britain are other natural paths. The advanced language skills are an asset in any international business context, and many graduates move into law, diplomacy, consultancy, or the civil service.

Postgraduate study in art history, Italian studies, or museum studies is a common next step for those aiming at curatorial or academic careers.