School of Art History

04/09/2026

The "Vasari/Mariette" album and Niccolò Gaddi's collection of works on paper

International conference, Central National Library of Florence

Prof Laura Moretti will be presenting and chairing a session at The "Vasari/Mariette" album and Niccolò Gaddi's collection of works on paper conference, 10-12 September 2026, comprising three sessions of presentations at the National Central Library of Florence, a study session at the Uffizi's Department of Prints and Drawings, and a concluding round-table discussion.

This conference examines the history and physical reconstruction of the “Vasari/Mariette” album, a monumental volume of architectural drawings once part of the collection of Niccolò Gaddi (1537–1591). A pivotal figure in late sixteenth-century Florence, Gaddi maintained a "public-facing" private archive that served as a vital conduit for Renaissance architectural thought. The album's complex provenance includes the Earl of Arundel, Pierre-Jean Mariette and Jean-Baptiste Séroux d'Agincourt, before its 1798 acquisition by the Uffizi. Key areas of focus include the album's sophisticated display system, which featured 107 large-scale sheets by masters such as Bramante and the Sangallos, integrated into elaborate watercolour frames with “hybrid” woodcut and pen-and-ink portraits. By investigating these materials, the conference seeks to rediscover the original intellectual framework of the collection, exploring how its integration into the Uffizi facilitated the transition from a private “proto-museum” to a systematic public institution.

The event is co-sponsored by University of St Andrews, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and Society for Renaissance Studies (SRS) in collaboration with Central National Library of Florence, Cabinet of Drawings and Prints of the Uffizi, ETH Zurich, and University of Notre Dame.

Full programme link: https://bncf.cultura.gov.it/attivita/il-cosiddetto-album-vasari-mariette-e-la-collezione

Laura Moretti
Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Firenze
Gallerie degli Uffizi
University of St Andrews

04/09/2026

Do you know who this student might be?

The St Andrews School of History and School of Art History are trying to trace the identity of this part-Māori student, who attended the University of St Andrews in the 1860s.

You can read more about this here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/.../who-was-this-maori-university...

Image courtesy of University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums, ID ALB-1-65.

Do you know who this student might be?

We are trying to trace the identity of this part-Māori student, who attended the University of St Andrews in the 1860s.

You can read more about this here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-ao-maori/1041534/who-was-this-maori-university-student-in-1860s-scotland

Image courtesy of University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums, ID ALB-1-65.

02/07/2026

Today's the day!

Congratulation to all our wonderful School of Art History students graduating today!

You can watch the ceremonies here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/graduation/watch-live/ -2-july-2026

24/06/2026

We are hiring! Will you be our next Museum Trainees?

If you are a recent postgraduate or graduating in this year's postgraduate cohort at the University of St Andrews, this is your chance! Gain hands-on experience on lots of different parts of Museum work, and get a year to plan your next career move.

Applications close on Monday 29th June 2026.

More information and how to apply:
Museums Trainee (Engagement): https://ow.ly/XYzM50ZgjqX
Museums Trainee (Collections): https://ow.ly/xBqN50ZgjqW

04/06/2026

University of St Andrews top in Scotland!

2027 Complete University Guide

The University of St Andrews has been ranked best university in Scotland and fourth across the UK in the 2027 Complete University Guide league table https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings

The School of Art History was placed second in the Guide’s UK subject rankings, which take into account entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/history-of-art-architecture-and-design

The Complete University Guide league tables are compiled from data taken from the 2025 National Student Survey, the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (2024-25).

The University of St Andrews is ranked as the top university in Scotland and fourth in the UK in the newly released 2027 Complete University Guide.

At subject level, St Andrews’ School of Mathematics and Statistics is top in UK, with a further 10 subjects in the top three – Art History, Chemistry; Divinity, English; Earth and Environmental Sciences; French, German; Italian; Physics and Astronomy; and Psychology and Neuroscience. A total of 24 subjects rank in the top 10.

Read more 👇

https://ow.ly/KA9a50Z7ayL

03/06/2026

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

01/06/2026

Inspiring School of Art History Teaching Away Day in Wardlaw Museum's Learning Loft today, chatting about our experiences and examples of good practice.

First up Billy Rough on 'MA Combined Studies Art History: Hybrid Teaching and Pre-Recorded Lectures', then Emily Savage on 'Digital Art History: Update and Digital Mapping Module'. Lisa McDonald talked on 'AH5608 Colonial Collections and Critical Displays: Provenance Research Report' whilst Alistair Rider spoke on the School's Ballater Reading Weekend.

Later, Catherine Spencer talked on her module 'AH4253 Decolonial, Feminist Q***r: Histories of Art in Britain since 1945', winner of the 1413 Inclusive Teaching Award, and Elsje van Kessel discussed 'Schooling Background and Inclusivity in Art History', winner of the 1413 Teaching Award, Outstanding Partnership in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Thanks to Natalia Sassu Suarez Ferri for organising and to Museums of the University of St Andrews for hosting!

29/05/2026

New PhD funding scheme launched! The University of St Andrews Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Postgraduate Research Scholarship encourages applications from UK‑domiciled 'Home' fee students from BAME backgrounds, with the aim of widening access to doctoral study and promoting greater representation in postgraduate research. The Deadline is Monday 29 June 2026.

This scheme supports the University's commitment to advancing race equality by helping to increase the representation and success of UK‑domiciled BAME students, and forms part of the University's Race Equality Charter Action Plan to address barriers and create more inclusive academic pathways.

Please visit the University of St Andrews Scholarship (link below) pages to view more details on this Scholarship. Applicants for the PhD programme in the School of Art History are eligible to apply for this scholarship: applications will be accepted from both from new PhD applicants and from existing offer holders for 2026/27 entry.

Applicants are encouraged to reach out to prospective supervisors in the School of Art History about their projects (see the staff pages on our website), and can also contact the Director of Post-Graduate Research, Dr Catherine Spencer, with any questions or queries about the application process at: [email protected]

https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/scholarships/scholarships-catalogue/postgraduate-scholarships/university-of-st-andrews-black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-bame-pgr-scholarship/

27/05/2026

Interested in Evening Study, including Art History?

Learn more here: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/education/5023655/st-andrews-evening-study/?dct_cid=native_ORD0341868

Open now for September 2026 entry!
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/combined-studies-ma/

Study part-time in the evening and work towards a degree. Apply now to start in January.

08/05/2026

Call for Papers: Revisiting the Canon