![William Powell Frith, A Private View at the Royal Academy, 1881 (detail) William Powell Frith, A Private View at the Royal Academy, 1881 (detail)](https://cloudinary.royalacademy.org.uk/royal-academy/image/upload/c_fill,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_880,ar_16:9/vd6kimd8bcarzrsopz1z.jpg)
Analysis of the art market: the evolution of taste
Weekend-long art theory and business course
2 November 2019 10am - 5pm3 November 2019 10am - 5pm
Wolfson British Academy Room, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts
£540. Includes light refreshments and lunch on both days and a wine reception.
Terms and conditions
Led by historian and art dealer, Angus Haldane, this weekend course offers critical insights into the history of the art market through the filter of the history of changes in taste.
The notion that the aesthetic and market value of a work of art is interconnected has always broadly been accepted. However, in today’s rapidly changing world, how the value of a work of art is perceived commercially, reputationally and culturally is far more complex.
This course will examine the economic, religious, scientific and sociological pressures which have moulded taste across the centuries. It will examine how the tastes of Old Master connoisseurs and the tastemakers of the 19th and 20th centuries have evolved to form the bespoke tastes of the 21st-century art market participant.
Why, for example, does the current market like red pictures more than green? What about white, black, blue and yellow and how does any perceived commercial hierarchy compare with critical assessments of colour in previous centuries?
Why do some paintings of saints, martyrs and Madonnas excite interest in the current art market, while others less so? How does the role of connoisseur and tastemaker exist in today’s market and how has this changed from the time of the Renaissance? What are the practical implications of shifting taste on the way in which artists, dealers, galleries and institutions interact in today’s market?
Bringing the conversation up to the present day, we will consider how Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and even the BBC has affected our taste in art, and ask whether parallels for these media dynamics can be found in previous eras of art.
This course will offer participants the opportunity to explore and examine some of these key questions and gain a deeper knowledge of both the history of art and commerce in a new and stimulating way. It will analyse art market tastes following a broad chronology from Old Master paintings straight through to contemporary art.
Over the course we will discuss topics such as: subject matter, rarity, provenance, condition, authorship and authenticity. Over two days of lectures, panel discussion and classroom debate, the course will provide participants with the context, knowledge and ability to assess the art market for themselves.
£540. Includes light refreshments and lunch on both days and a wine reception.
Terms and conditions
About the course
This course provides a unique opportunity to learn about key institutions and individuals who played and still play an important role in the recognition of value in art.
The course provides an historical and business perspective on the origins of the art market and art system, which is relevant for both institutions and individual artists and collectors.
Sessions are designed to enable an historical and business overview for those new to the field, but is relevant for those with prior art world knowledge keen to learn from experts.
The course will be delivered in part through a lecture format, but will include an opportunity for questions and discussion between speakers and participants.
This course is suitable for all levels.
This course is for you if:
• You have a general interest in art business, and would like a novel way to understand cultural and historical change
• You are interested in gaining knowledge about the history of the art market, from both a historic and interdisciplinary approach
• You have a personal or professional interest in how art can be valued, acquired, and interpreted by different audiences
• You currently work, or aspire to work, in the art and cultural sector and want to understand the interaction between different players and tastemakers in the arts, and be exposed to art world professionals and leading scholars
Minimum age 18
Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs.
£540
Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 November 2018
10.00am – 5.00pm on both days
• A rich combination of lectures, discussion, and the opportunity for expert-led answers from a range of art world speakers
• An exploration of the history of the origin of the art market and how art is viewed and understood
• An opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge relevant to those with art historical and arts management interests
• The opportunity to socialise and network with peers in a friendly environment
• A certificate of participation at the end of course completion
• Light refreshments and lunch on both days
• A drinks reception at the end of the first day
![Angus Haldene Angus Haldene](https://cloudinary.royalacademy.org.uk/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_480/csv2iqd28cnwva7ehhbj.jpg)
About the tutor
Angus Haldane
Angus Haldane is Director of Haldane Fine Art, an art dealership and consultancy with an international clientele which was founded over a decade ago and is based in Central London. He is also an independent curator and art historian. Angus studied Classics at Oxford University, specializing in history, literature and antique sculpture. After Oxford, Angus graduated from the Courtauld Institute with an MA in Byzantine and Early Renaissance art. He worked for many years as a senior specialist in paintings at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, where he gained considerable experience researching, attributing, and valuing pictures, as well as managing the auction process. His deep knowledge and passion extend from the art of the sixteenth century to the most contemporary of works. In addition to art dealing, he has catalogued museum collections and provides consultancy to some of London’s leading Art Advisors. He has recently published his first book, titled Face of War: Portraits of the English Civil Wars. Angus has appeared as an art commentator on the BBC and CNN and speaks French, Italian and Russian
![A visit to the Royal Academy of Arts Library led by Adam Waterton, Head of Library Services A visit to the Royal Academy of Arts Library led by Adam Waterton, Head of Library Services](https://cloudinary.royalacademy.org.uk/royal-academy/image/upload/c_fill,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_480,ar_16:9/pqdgwpbppdknlqznpihn.jpg)
Our courses and classes programme
Our varied programme of short courses and classes provides an opportunity to explore subjects ranging from life drawing to the history of exhibitions and arts management, led by expert tutors and practising artists. These courses introduce traditional art-making processes, as well as perspectives on art history, theory and business.
![Collections image for Courses and Classes gift module Collections image for Courses and Classes gift module](https://cloudinary.royalacademy.org.uk/royal-academy/image/upload/c_fill,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_480,ar_16:9/x38vl7gnk1e04jamspvg.jpg)
Give this course as a gift
All of our courses can be purchased as a gift for a friend or family member – giving the gift of education and a remarkable experience. To arrange a personalised Gift Voucher, please contact Anna Pojer, Academic Programmes Manager, by calling 020 7300 5684 or email anna.pojer@royalacademy.org.uk
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