"There are no rules in art.”   Francisco de Goya

History of Art is not a hermetical world of art movements, it is not just about ‘isms’ and artistic intellect, but art in the human context. Art tells us about individual and collective experiences and perceptions of the world. It is about being a creative human being. It can tell us about people, (portraits are full of clues), and about their environment, (interiors, landscapes, townscapes), their religious beliefs and the power of their imaginations. It can also place before us thought-provoking images and objects which express personal doubts, concerns, desires and the more visceral impulses. Art can take myriad forms and be expressed through any media. 

At Queenswood we study all forms of art, focusing on the historical periods that most interest our girls. The AS year provides a broad introduction to the discipline, including the methodology, technical vocabulary and specialised skills required by the art historian.

During the A2 year we focus on three subjects for specialised study, two of which are selected by the girls from a list provided by the examination board, the other being whatever the girl is inspired to choose. It is an opportunity to develop personal research skills and provides an ideal preparation for university studies.

Girls studying History of Art make frequent visits to the major London museums and galleries. Visits to the following cities have also been undertaken in recent years to gather information from a rich array of sources: Florence, Rome, Paris, Madrid and Athens.

Wendy Bird, Head of History of Art

Dr Wendy Bird, BA Hons (Leicester), PGCE, PhD (Reading)

Wendy Bird teaches A Level History of Art at Queenswood. She is also a qualified art teacher and was for some time a professional painter and printmaker. She has taught at school and university in England and Spain, where she lived for many years.

She is specialised in Spanish art and her doctoral thesis deals with Goya, whose work is covered in depth during A2 History of Art. She has published a number of articles in scholarly journals and has contributed chapters to books as well as translations.

When not teaching, Wendy enjoys listening to music, particularly violin and chamber music, as well as painting and drawing.