About Paul Priestley

Art History School

Art History School aims to bring to life, in video, the fascinating lives of some of the world’s great artists. Paul Priestley is a former art teacher and the man behind Art History School. He is passionate about making art history accessible to everyone.

Monday, 10am–5pm
Tuesday, 10am–5pm
Wednesday, 10am–9pm
Thursday, 10am–5pm
Friday, 10am–5pm

Artists such as :

Why Art History?

Art History School videos are an introduction to the fascinating lives of some of the world’s greatest artists. They explore their motivations, their development, their tribulations, and their successes. We believe that by understanding where the artist came from helps to understand their work.

Art history is important because it is more than just looking at lots of paintings and sculptures in art galleries made by people who lived long ago. Art provides a means by which we can understand our human past and its relationship to our present.

Looking at artists and their art in context gives us insights into the society in which the artist lived. It also helps us comprehend how people were represented, how religion was seen and how the artwork itself was received when first displayed and how attitudes to it may have changed over time.

Art History School

“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

Banksy

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

Edgar Degas

“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

Banksy

Become a Patreon

I strive to improve the quality of my videos by upgrading the software, sound  and video equipment required to produce them. Your support would be welcome.

Artist of the Month

Amedeo Modigliani is best known for portraits and nudes in a modern style characterized by a surreal elongation of faces, necks, and figures that were not received well during his lifetime..

Become a Patreon

I strive to improve the quality of my videos by upgrading the software, sound  and video equipment required to produce them. Your support would be welcome.

Artist of the Month

Mary Cassatt depicted the 19th century New Woman from the woman’s perspective and is most famous for her paintings of Mother and Child.

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“He who works with his hands is a labourer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

Saint Francis of Assisi

News & Stories

Interesting stories, insights and revelations about the world of art

News & Storie

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