Sumários

Caricature in 18th century Britain

13 Maio 2026, 08:00 • Margarida Pereira Martins

In this class the topic of visual arts and satire was continued with a focus on caricature, its characteristics, the main artists and its social function. 

Caricature and social commentary are linked to the spirit of the age of greater freedom of expression, the importance of public opinion and the possibility of mocking the aristocracy or politicians through visual representation in a way that had only been done in literature up until then. This art also flourishes and becomes popular not only for its theme but also for the fact that it could be printed, sold and displayed on windows of shops, making it more generally available. 

British cultural identity through art

8 Maio 2026, 08:00 • Margarida Pereira Martins

In this class we looked at how the artists developed individual styles in the 18th century. 

There was also a growing pride in British national identity and art reflected the stability, the order the wealth of the nation. 
Different artistic styles started developing in this era such as the landscape painting (already looked at in the previous class), sea-paining, sporting art, conversation pieces and comical satirical pieces as well. 
Artists studied in class: William Hogarth, Robert Wilson and also two women founding members of the Royal Academy: Angelica Kauffman and Mary Moser. 

Landscape - the invention of "Englishness"

6 Maio 2026, 08:00 • Margarida Pereira Martins

In this class we looked at British (mostly English) art in the 18th century and how artists started to develop a consciousness of their place in society. The main style of art was portraits and it was literature that had flourished. But artists in the Hanoverian era started to develop a status, develop individual style, refining taste, exhibiting their work and training and selling their art. 

The founding of the Royal Academy and its role in promoting the artist.
Landscape art and the depiction of the landscape in Thomas Gainsborough.
Sporting art, animals and horse races in George Stubbs.
Sir Joshua Reynolds and the grand manner portrait. 

Enlightenment - literature and art

29 Abril 2026, 08:00 • Margarida Pereira Martins

In this lesson we looked at how the Enlightenment manifested itself in art and literature with writers such as Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Aphra Benn and others. 

The rise of the English novel also happened in early 8th century and became very popular with men and women leading to the idea of the bestseller. 

Enlightenment (continued)

24 Abril 2026, 08:00 • Margarida Pereira Martins

In this lesson we continued the Enlightenment as a broader European social and collective movement. The aim was to show how public opinion. public spaces such as coffeehouses, salons as well as Societies contributed to the spreading of ideas, debates on science, politics and progress and knowledge (the idea of the "penny universities"). 

Excerpts of texts by Kant, Voltaire and Mendellsohn were read and discussed in class.