School of Art History Online Lecture Series: Athletics & Aesthetics -- Sport in Art History Women in sport in art
This new School of Art History Online Lecture Series is an exploration of the history of golf in Scotland told through the collections of The R&A World Golf Museum and The Royal & Ancient Golf Club. Explore the dynamic intersection of art and sport in this six-week series, where art history meets athleticism. From golf to rugby, cycling to the Olympics, discover how artists have captured the energy, grace and cultural impact of sport across centuries.
Each week features an expert-led lecture followed by a live audience Q&A, offering a unique opportunity to dive deeper into the stories behind the artworks. Brought to you by the University's School of Art History in collaboration with The R&A World Golf Museum, this thought-provoking series offers fresh perspectives for art lovers, sports fans and curious minds alike.
Women in sport in art explores how women in sport are represented in art, mainly in the National Galleries of Scotland collection, across a wide range of media. Whether it be curling, mountaineering, tennis, football or golf, women have been active participants in sport over the centuries. However, representation of this participation in art, be it on the periphery or as players, is an overlooked aspect of the history of art and sporting heritage. This exploration seeks to provide a foundation to reclaim this presence, particularly in light of the current acceleration in the growth and increasing assimilation of women's sport. Focusing on artworks from the nineteenth century onwards, new art historical contexts will be brought together with the stories of those depicted.
Imogen Gibbon is Head of Portraiture and Photography and Chief Curator at National Galleries of Scotland. She's curated numerous exhibitions focusing on portraiture, across a wide range of subjects, media, styles and centuries, including the exhibition Playing for Scotland: the Making of Modern Sport. She's been on the judging panel for the British Society of Sports History The Lord Aberdare Literary Prize and is a Trustee of The Hockey Museum.
The other events in the series are:
- Painted Links: an exploration of the history of golf in Scotland told through the collections of The R&A World Golf Museum and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
- State propaganda through art and sport in fascist Italy
- From Ancient Greece to modern spectacle: the visual culture of the Olympic Games
- Cycling in Modern and Contemporary Art
- Oval balls and cubist players
Each week in the series there will be a lecture from 2pm to 3pm, followed by a half hour question and answer session. The series costs £120 with a special rate for R&A members, R&A staff, and University of St Andrews staff and students of £90. Please book your tickets online through the University Shop.
Image credit: St Andrews (Railway poster), Reginald Higgins, circa 1925. Reproduced by kind permission of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.