Art History

Studies and research in Art History have been one of the primary interests of the History & Archaeology Department. The Art History Graduate Program has been unofficially running since September 1992 with the initiative of professor Nikos Hatjinikolaou, to be officially inaugurated a little later as the first Greek Graduate Program in Art History. Current teaching staff of the Program are: Professor Eugenios D. Matthiopoulos, also director of the Program, associate Professor Panayiotis Ioannou and assistant professor Titina Kornezou. Lecturers are also invited from other Greek or foreign Universities and museums.

The Program as well as the Department have been particularly interested in the constant supply of the university library with art history books and periodicals, as well as in the donation of private libraries and archives, which constitute a valuable tool for graduate research and which make the University of Crete’s library one of the best academic libraries in Greece upon Art History.

The AH Graduate Program intends to promote knowledge and research by preparing young specialized scholars in Modern Greek and European Art History. Seminars aim at familiarizing students with methods of interpretation and technics of art analysis (painting, sculpture, engravings, architecture, photography and applied arts). Special emphasis is set on interdisciplinary approaches through the study of history of literature, philosophy and aesthetics, history of ideologies/intellectual history, sociology and social psychology, anthropology, politics and economic history, which connect art to the history of civilization in global. The rich intricate tapestry of art phenomena and their methods of approach is illuminated by case studies of larger historical range.

The organization and function of the Program fall within the capacity of the History & Archaeology Department and the University of Crete organs.

Graduate students are awarded an Art History Master’s Degree.