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Art history is the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts.  Moreover, art history generally is the research of artists and their cultural and social contributions.  In addition to art, artists, and artistic moements, the curriculum will also concentrate on philosophy and the great thinkers of each artistic period. 

As a discipline, art history is distinguished from art criticism, which is concerned with establishing a relative artistic value upon individual works with respect to others of comparable style, or sanctioning an entire style or movement; and art theory, which is concerned with the fundamental nature of art, and is more related to aesthetics investigating the enigma of the sublime and determining the essence of beauty, i.e. artistic appeal. Technically, art history is not these things, because the art historian uses historical method to answer the questions: How did the artist come to create the work? Who were the patrons? Who were his or her teachers? Who was the audience? Who were his or her disciples? What historical forces shaped the artist's oeuvre and How did he or she and the creation, in turn, affect the course of artistic, political, and social events?

With a degree in Art History you can work as an Art Historian, Broker, Gallery Curator, and other careers involving art.