Elizabeth Shapiro
Student spotlight details
Elizabeth, a volunteer and art enthusiast, enrolled on our part-time Certificate in History of Art to deepen her understanding of art and history. Despite a four-hour weekly commute, the course has transformed her museum visits and enriched the stories she shares with visitors at historic sites.
'I am originally from Chicago and have a master’s degree in education. Since moving to the UK and raising a family here, I have been lucky enough to be a frequent visitor to the many art museums in London, spending hours disappearing inside Canaletto’s Venice or poring over the details of Holbein’s portraits. I am also a keen volunteer at the Historic Royal Palaces and the National Trust, sharing stories about the people who lived in these places with visitors from all over the world.
'After my son left for university, I was encouraged by my colleagues to enrol on a programme to 'learn what I love'. I became excited to really spend time looking deeper into history and art. I was thrilled to learn about the Certificate in History of Art, which sounded amazing: to learn about the history of art at this historic university, taught by people passionate about their field of study, with access to Oxford's extensive, beautiful libraries.
'I live in rural Kent, and even though my commute to class every week begins at 4:30am and is approximately 4 hours each way, I have never missed a session. Every week, I learn something fascinating from a brilliant instructor, from how Greek sculpture influenced students at art academies millennia later to the impact of Chinese ceramics on European decorative art. I’ve had access to books and journals, some hundreds of years old, while researching topics from feminist metalwork to Japanese woodblock prints. And learning has continued outside of the classroom, with day trips to many London museums where our teachers have inspired us even further to look closer at the art we studied.
'I am a better volunteer because of my studies. The stories I tell visitors at the properties I work at now are richer, more informed and even more enthusiastic. My experience with the Certificate programme has only excited me more, and I want to explore the historical studies programmes within Oxford’s Lifelong Learning further. Maybe, in the future, I can help the curators where I volunteer research their exhibits or inspire new ways of thinking about the histories of these historic properties. My visits to art museums are more focused and even more satisfying; I look longer and question more.
'I would encourage anyone who is considering enrolling in a history of art course at Oxford to do so. This course is so much more than a casual online session or a weekend at a museum learning about art. You will delve deeper into each topic, not only learning from inspiring teachers but researching and exploring independently, growing confidence in your own ability as a scholar. The subject is fascinating, the teaching is world-class, and the resources are unparalleled. As someone once told me, it is a gift to yourself to finally learn what you love, and what a wonderful place to do so.'
