‘Like long-distance travel, art history can provide a different set of circumstances that allows us, even stimulates us, to reflect on present circumstances with clearer vision’

(Addiss, S. & Erickson, M., 1993. Art History and Education, University of Illinois Press)

The Chester Beatty Collection as a Teaching and Learning Resource

Aoife Keogh

Background and Process

• Positive Collaborative Process.• Variety of educational contexts. • Current and proposed new art history

curriculum and exam.• Arts institution experience.• Masters in visual art education (NCAD)

research.• Analysis of available curriculum material.• Previous resources designed.

Artefacts Rationale• To highlight the value of the Chester Beatty Library

as a teaching and learning site for Leaving Certificate art history and appreciation.

• To explore the Chester Beatty collection as a valuable source of first-hand experience and research.

• To create a student centred ‘workbook’ that promotes critical and reflective observation.

• To provide a relevant and inclusive curriculum resource facilitating intercultural understanding.

‘Students fundamentally meet all learning initiatives, consciously or unconsciously, with such questions as: What does this mean to me? or What can I use this for?’ (Illeris, K., 2008. Contemporary Theories of Learning. Routledge)

Key Skills and Learning Outcomes‘Develop the intelligence and the creativity of students

in the significant and distinctive ways afforded by the arts’ (Arts Education Points of Alignment Report 2008)

• Vocabulary and Terminology• Technical Knowledge• Critical Visual Observation• Contextual Understanding• Appreciation• Research Skills• Personal Reflection• Synthesis and Application

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), The Department of Education and Skills (DES), State examinations Commission (SEC).

ReflectDo you or your family orfriends collect objects of

any kind? Do you think all humans have the urge to collect useful, valuable,

beautiful or unusualobjects and artefacts?

QuestionDo you consider

Facebook to be a book? Why/Why not?

AnalyseFind Giotto di Bondonein your art history book.

Compare his use of composition, colour, scale, tone, media

and subject matter tothe work of

Jacopo Avanzi in theCollection.

ApplicationConsider how the

collection can influence your

own artwork.

ResearchCount how often

in a day you refer to or rely on writing

or text.

CurateAs a class choose a

selection 10 interesting artefacts from the

collection. Plan and design an exhibition of these

artworks in your school.

Experiential Learning (Dewey 1938, Kolb & Fry 1975)

‘Occurs when carefully chosen experiences are supported by reflection, critical analysis and synthesis.’ (Association for Experiential Education, 2011)

ContentInformation relevant to the Leaving Certificate art curriculum and

examination.

Period

Imagery

Origins

Composition

DecorationFunction

Art ElementsLine

ShapeToneForm

PatternTexture

Subject Matter

Style

Format

ColourMedia

ToolsTechniques

Materials

Skills

Process

Scale

Technical Information

Audience

Theme

Influences

Patronage

Overview Section I

• Journey through the Chester Beatty Library with Artefacts

• The Life story of a book

Section II

1. Early Religious Iconography2. Medieval Manuscripts3. The Book through the Italian

Renaissance4. Northern European Realism5. Japanese Art and 20th Century Influence6. East Asian Invention

Section III• Student tasks and Reflection• The Development of Books

Kikugawa Eizan1806Japan

Claude Monet1876

France

Artefacts Design

Keogh, A. & King, F., 2011. In Colour, Fingal County CouncilKeogh, A., 2011. Content and Incentive, NCAD

Conclusion

• Completion

• Dissemination and Access

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• Workshops, Talks and Tours

‘Visual interpretation depends on the pleasure, thrills, fascination, wonder, fear or revulsion of the person looking at the images and then writing about them. Successful interpretation depends on passionate engagement with what you see.’

(Rose, D.G., 2006. Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials: Sage Publications)

Contact keogha@ncad.ie or jennys@cbl.ie