Art History

Westover has its own history of Art History: it's been part of our curriculum since 1913, four years after Westover opened in 1909. Furthermore, Theodate Pope Riddle, architect of Westover and one of America's first successful female architects, was a friend of noted impressionist painter Mary Cassatt.

Every student at Westover studies Art History for at least one trimester - not a typical requirement at the high school level. Each trimester we offer electives art history courses in concentrated areas like “Italian Renaissance Art” or “Women in the Arts”, as well as Humanities courses, which combine a thematic or period study of art history and music in courses like “The Romantic Spirit” or “Nature in the Arts.” In addition, we offer a year-long study in Advanced Placement Art History that build upon college survey courses.

Why such an emphasis on Art History? Art History offers students a unique opportunity to examine the past through a variety of different lenses – from social, political, or psychological angles, to more theoretical perspectives including formalist or feminist views. In addition, by encouraging students to feel comfortable and confident in looking at art, the visual literacy students build not only enables them to engage with what they see, but also hones their analytical skills as well as they learn to consider how a work of art produces meaning.

Technology at Westover enhances each student’s experience of art history from digital technology in slide viewing, to image and academic article databases, to interactive on-line discussions. What's more, every term, each art history or humanities course goes on a relevant field trip to museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Frick Collection, Dia:Beacon, the Wadsworth, or the Yale British Center for the Arts, among others, or to the theaters like Lincoln Center, for example, to hear musical concerts .