This article was previously published in the special edition, ALUMNAE (December 2018). MA 1975 Few have been so devoted to The Courtauld, so consistently or for so long, as Jane Ferguson. Alongside art history and a prolific philanthropic career, Ferguson has been instrumental in developing a productive community around The Courtauld and its alumnae. Having heard of The Courtauld while studying for her first degree at McGill University in Montreal and admired its reputation f

This article was previously published in the special edition, ALUMNAE (December 2018). 1943-2008 MA 1967 Engulfed by art at a young age, there is no doubt not only that Anne d’Harnoncourt was curious about its many historical paths and theoretical features, but that creativity ran in her veins. A graduate of Radcliffe College, Massachusetts, with a BA in History and English Literature, d’Harnoncourt moved to London where she undertook an MA in nineteenth-century painting at T

This article was previously published in the special edition, ALUMNAE (December 2018). BA 1960 Jennifer Fletcher is one of the many polymaths who has occupied, and continues to occupy, the halls of The Courtauld. She graduated with a BA from The Courtauld in 1960, having spent her free time playing hockey on the mixed team for the London School of Economics. Her journey to The Courtauld had, however, started on rocky ground. Having attended a grammar school in Birmingham, Fle

This article was previously published in the special edition, ALUMNAE (December 2018). 1928 - 2016 BA 1949, PhD 1952 If the average person were to do only one of the things that Anita Brookner achieved, they would be considered a great success. In her early years Brookner could be found in Dulwich Picture Gallery, where she first fell in love with art while contemplating Poussin’s Triumph of David. During her time studying French and History at King’s College London, she woul

This article was previously published in the special edition, ALUMNAE (December 2018). 1928 - 2017 BA 1949, PhD 1952 When thinking about the centenary of women winning the right to vote, ‘rebellion’ and ‘determination’ are words that spring to mind. These are themes embodied by Pamela Tudor-Craig when, as a student at The Courtauld, she defied then Director Professor Sir Anthony Blunt’s wishes and chose to study medieval art history against his will – she did not agree with h

This article was previously published in the special edition, ALUMNAE (December 2018). 1916 – 2018 PG Dip 1937 An indomitable figure of twentieth-century culture, Anne Olivier Bell (née Popham) is an alumna whose substantial achievements, though very much appreciated, are too often hidden in the shadow of others. The only alumna to have lived through both the Representation of the People Act 1918 and its centenary, daughter of A.E. Popham, Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the

A film star, a clown, a middle-aged socialite. These are some of the many faces of distinguished photographer Cindy Sherman on display at her National Portrait Gallery exhibition, which closed on Sunday. By manipulating her appearance, Sherman’s self-portraits explore the tension between façade and identity, challenging societal stereotypes and expectations of the female gender. Therefore, it is no surprise that throughout her career, Sherman’s work has caught the attention o