MA The Art Market and the History of Collecting by Research

University of Buckingham

Course Info

Course outline

The MA is offered by the University of Buckingham in association with Waddesdon Manor (Rothschild Collections).

Investigating American and European art markets and cultures of collecting from the Renaissance to the present day, it is taught by staff from the University of Buckingham and Waddesdon Manor with participation from the National Gallery and outside expert.

A unique MA

A unique feature of the course will be access to two of the greatest surviving art dealers’ archives: Agnew’s, acquired by the National Gallery in 2014, and the archive of Colnaghi’s, London’s oldest commercial art gallery, housed since February 2014 in the Windmill Hill Archive, Waddesdon Manor. It is the first MA in the UK to offer, under the guidance of experts, practical training on how to use, unlock and analyse these rich holdings.

Teaching & Assessment

Quality teaching

We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.

After Your Course

Career prospects

The course provides a vocational and academic training to a new generation of art historians, museum curators and archivists, art dealers and auctioneers as well as providing a stepping-stone towards further postgraduate research. However, we also welcome enquiries from those students wishing to pursue the study of the History of Collecting and the Art Market for its own sake.