Print this page Creative London: Writers and Artists of the 18th Century

Step into the dynamic world of 18th-century London, a city alive with artistic and literary innovation. This course explores the people and ideas that helped shape a remarkable cultural period. We examine figures such as Samuel Johnson, Mary Wollstonecraft and Daniel Defoe, alongside artists including Joshua Reynolds and Gainsborough. Their work reflects a city transformed by trade, wealth and intellectual exchange. Through stories and context, this course reveals how London became a centre of creativity and influence during a pivotal moment in cultural history.

DELIVERY MODE

• Online

COURSE OUTLINE

• London Society in the Eighteenth Century
• The Economy and Government of Eighteenth century England
• Writers of 'the Augustan' age and the growth of the Novel (Johnson, Defoe, Wollstonecraft, Swift)
• Author friendships and rivalries
• Artists (and the authors they painted) Sir Joshua Reynolds, William Turner, Hogarth, Stubbs, Gainsborough)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Appreciate the significant authors and artists of 18th century London
• Understand the nature of their works in the context of the age of the Enlightenment and the growth of English society