Intro to Art History for High School: Art Crime! Heists, Forgeries, and More!
In this six-week course, students will be introduced to the complex and crazy world of art crime, including spotting forgeries, famous thefts, and what museums do when problems arise! #creative
Molly McGill, M.A.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(894)
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What's included
6 live meetings
5 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Each week, students will respond to questions that correlate with the week's topics in 1-2 paragraphs.Assessment
Learner progress is assessed through in-class discussions, online discussions, and written assignments. Grades are available upon request.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner - Intermediate Level
This unique class invites high school students to explore the thrilling intersection of art and intrigue, diving into the stories of notorious art crimes and the masterpieces that inspired them. Throughout the course, students will uncover the historical context behind famous artworks, learning about celebrated artists and their techniques while examining the darker side of art history—heists, forgeries, and scandals. Each session will feature captivating case studies, from the infamous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft to the cunning forgeries of skilled con artists. Designed for curious minds, this interactive course encourages students to think critically about art’s cultural significance and the ethical dilemmas surrounding its ownership and authenticity. With discussions, visual analysis, and creative assignments, learners will not only enhance their appreciation for art but also develop essential skills in research, analysis, and storytelling.
Learning Goals
Students will learn the following things in this course:
--How to talk about and describe art, both verbally and in written form
--How to think critically about art and images that are presented to you
--How art fits into a larger historical context
--How institutional structures marginalize certain voices within the art historical narrative
--How institutions preserve and care for their collections
--What legal policies are in place to protect artworks
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum6 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
Introductions and What is Art Crime?
Students will spend a portion of class going over classroom expectations and with introductions to the group. The majority of our first day will be spent discussing what constitutes "art crime" and who makes those decisions, discussing national and international committees dedicated to the stop of crimes related to art. We will also discuss, historically, what steps museums and collectors have taken to protect their collections before we learn about how they can be easily deceived! 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Famous Art Heists
Week Two will introduce famous art heists to the students, unpacking how these sleuths find their way into collections and take artwork straight out of them! While not all of them will be Oceans Eleven style elaborate, students will look at the many ways these sneaky thieves have swindled millions of dollars worth of artwork into the black market, some of which has never been recovered. Students will learn how these thefts impact museums, their communities, and the artworks themselves. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Art Theft and Crime in Nazi Germany
Students will take the lessons learned from the previous two lessons and apply them to some of the most nefarious art crimes in history. In this class, students will discuss the pilfering of art collections by the Nazis throughout World War II, highlighting their reasoning for the theft, what they did with the works they collected, and the impact on the art world after the end of the War. Students will discuss the responsibilities museums have for the return of stolen artwork. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Art Forgery
Week four is all about forgeries. Students will learn about famous forgery artists, such as Han van Meergren, Wolfgang Beltracchi, Xiao Yuan, and more! Students will learn about popular methods of forgery and how curators and preservation staff can identify a forgery through its materials, signatures, documentation, etc. Students will learn about Art "CSI", or tools used to detect forgeries, such as ultraviolet light, pigment testing, PXRF technology, and carbon dating. 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Artworks may include images of nudity, violence, or religious imagery. Nazi Germany will be discussed in Week 3.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Students will be provided with outside resources after every class to elaborate on our lessons, available online. Sources used include university lectures, art historical textbooks, including Gardner's Art Through the Ages and Stokstad's Art History, cultural center websites, and museum information. When available, primary sources from the time period and area are used to include these voices prominently.
Joined September, 2018
4.9
894reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in History from University of Colorado at Boulder
I have been teaching art history for seven years now. I started my career teaching at the university level and in museums and have been teaching art history on Outschool since 2018. I developed this introductory series for middle and high schoolers so that they could have a foundation for talking about the arts earlier than at the college level and be exposed to history in a new way! Reviews
Live Group Course
$17
weekly1x per week, 6 weeks
50 min
Completed by 42 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
5-10 learners per class
