The Art Institute Reviews 

The art history course is superb. I have always enjoyed looking at art but not known enough about it. Now I am learning more, and in the process, appreciating more than just the art I like. I would recommend this to anyone who has a little time and a love of art.

Great experience. I really enjoy the modules.

I am absolutely loving this Art Appreciation course. Coming in as an absoloute novice, each module has introduced me to different movements, artists, cultural and political influences etc etc. I feel like I am looking at the world differently!
What I would have felt helpful is a Terms of Glossary.
Another suggestion is a Movement timeline. Just a basic one, so you can see where each period begins/ends etc.
I would very much love to do an advance module on New Zealand artists, when, if ever, one is produced.
Thank you so much for this learning experience.

The content is really engaging and additional reading suggestions allow more in depth exploration. I find the historical context setting helpful at the beginning of each module. Takes me to places all over the world without ever leaving my desk!

This is one of those 'I wish I'd done that at school' moments! The course is not only an amazing journey of art through the centuries, but also a history lesson in what influenced and shaped artists to create their masterpieces. It has changed the way I look at art and fostered a desire to know the influences and background behind the works. Although the modules contain all the relevant information, the assignments are crafted to encourage deeper research for those who wish it. With the fantastic support of a mentor to guide and encourage, I for one am so glad I took this course!

PROS: Learned a lot through my own research; really good (and tough) questions in the assignments
CONS: adding a module explaining how to write about art, would be helpful I feel
CAUTION: The Great Courses, or Elevify offers similar courses at a fraction of the price, with a more modern approach it seems

The modules are interesting and informative and the tutor's responses are very helpful and timely.

I have found the course on the whole informative and is giving me a wide ranging understanding of Western Art and in particular the myriad of isms / ists especially from mid 19th century onwards. The later modules especially nine and ten were particularly illuminating. The first module on how to look and analyse art was particularly helpful and was a good foundation. I was very disappointed with the Renaissance module which was to be honest pretty short considering its importance and uninspiring. The true test is the questions at the end of each module. To get high marks you do need to research using not only the reading list but the Internet - the module are often not nearly detailed enough to provide a high marks. If you do make the effort answering these often challenging questions in a page is the most rewarding and intellectually challenging part of the course. My course mentor provided very useful feedback and encouragement . I looked forward to Libby's comments. . It is a pity the other students seem to make little use of the Facebook page perhaps the course organisers should get more involved in stimulating debates. Would I recommend the course to others - I am not sure - it is expensive when you pay the full price for module content which is variable and not that detailed and as on line misses the student / student as well as student/ tutor interaction of face to face classes. Perhaps adding some live zooms would help.

An excellent course with well structured modules. Responsive tutors who go that extra mile with feedback and encouragement. Cant recommend it highly enough!

I've learned so much from the modern and contemporary art units, which have given me the language that I needed to talk about modern art. Feel lucky to have Stephen Farthing as a tutor as he encourages independent thinking, as long as its backed up with a logical argument. If The Art Institute ever offered a course in Asian and African Art, I'd be keen (once I've taken off the 5kgs from eating M&Ms while reading about art!)

The content is excellent and very well presented. Tutor feedback is prompt and very detailed. I have thoroughly enjoyed the course.

I have learned so much through doing this course which I think is very good value for money. The modules are easy to read and the assignments challenging enough to really make me think. The feedback from my tutor has been encouraging and helpful. I have been inspired to visit galleries and learn more about individual artists - particularly female artists.

After completing the 10th module, I am really enjoying the course, especially last 4 modules, the ideas discussed and the assignments are great and push you to search and dig deeper into the subject. The feedback from the tutor is helpful detailed and constructive, prepares you well to get better in future assignments. Also the support team are quite responsive. Amazing course, I learned about ideas in Art I never knew existed.

Half way through the ArtAppreciation course,I have learnt so much. The modules I have completed have been comprehensive , giving many insights into the development of art and art movements through the centuries.
Not being a fan of the historic art movements, I have been able to more fully learn, appreciate and understand the works of those eras.
The assignments are thought provoking, encouraging further research, compounding the information given in the modules.
Tutor, Stephen Farthing, has given in-depth and constructive guidance in his prompt marking and feedback.
I am finding the course enjoyable, stimulating and most
informative

I would recommend The Art Institute Art Appreciation online course for anyone interested in understanding more about art. It covers a lot of ground and information about art and artists, what I like is the social and political context of the period under study.

The modules are well written and informative and I’m learning a lot. The course work is challenging but that’s not a bad thing! It’s certainly stretching me to learn about areas of art that I previously knew nothing about.

The teaching materials are excellent. Every part of each module is expertly explained in some detail but sufficiently broad enough to allow you to follow up with your own reading and research. The tutors are available for guidance when you need it and when work is submitted it is marked promptly and with good guidance and advice on how to improve when needed.

A very comprehensive service.

I have greatly enjoyed the course so far and found it both intellectually stimulating and very well structured. The modules provide an excellent balance between historical context, artistic analysis, and wider cultural interpretation, making complex developments in art history accessible without oversimplifying them.

One of the strongest aspects of the course is the way it links artworks to broader social, political, and philosophical ideas. For example, the discussions around the Counter-Reformation, academic theory, Rococo culture, and Neoclassicism have helped demonstrate that art history is not simply about style, but about changing ideas, institutions, and values.

The written materials are detailed and academically rigorous, yet still engaging to read. I particularly appreciate the inclusion of close visual analysis alongside discussion of theory and historical context. The use of specific artworks to illustrate larger themes has been especially helpful in developing essay-writing skills.

The course also does an excellent job of introducing debate and complexity rather than presenting art history as a fixed narrative. Discussions of issues such as the hierarchy of genres, the role of the art market, and the challenges faced by women artists have added important critical perspectives.

Overall, the course has significantly deepened my understanding and appreciation of European art history and has encouraged more confident analytical thinking about artworks and their contexts.

The quality of the course material and the scope of its content is excellent. The modules are thorough, informative, thought provoking and topical.
The tutor support is encouraging, honest and marking is returned promptly.
I have grown in my appreciation of art/culture and history as a result of this course.