Alchemy, tarot, and Japanese prints in SNF Scholars’ Courtauld dissertations

From 1999 onward, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Scholarship Program at The Courtauld Institute of Art in London supported over 100 students in being able to pursue highly sought-after advanced degrees in art history, curation, and conservation. Many of them have since gone on key roles in the art world as museum directors, art critics, university professors, gallerists, and more, but others are just starting out.

Hear from Isabel and Ellen, two recent recipients of master’s degrees in History of Art about what captivates them in art, what the scholarship support meant to them, and what comes next.

This past year, I've studied Qing art history with one of the top professors in the field; learned art history methodologies from an incredible roster of art historians; and written papers on Persian ceramics, Chinese/Japanese perspective prints, and nineteenth-century Chinese/Japanese colonial projects. My dissertation is on a pioneering Japanese print collector who helped forge a new national identity for Japan at the turn of twentieth century. I've studied the greatest Asian art collections in Europe and investigated the global circulation of Asian art on class trips to Lisbon and Paris. I've enjoyed every minute of my time at the Courtauld and my time in Europe. 

Receiving this scholarship has transformed my time at the Courtauld, allowing me to concentrate 100% on my studies without worrying about earning money. With my extra time, I've researched more deeply, read more widely, and written more ambitious essays. I've also had time to take Japanese classes, preparing me for my next two years in Japan (I will be studying at Kyushu University) and a future curatorial career in East Asian Art. I've also had time to meet with East Asian curators and professors outside of the Courtauld to expand my network, and go to major exhibitions on East Asian art. I was also part of the Courtauld East Wing Biennial Society and the Alumni Mentorship Programme, and I’ve worked with the Courtauld Education department, giving public talks, helping facilitate family day, and supervising student groups. 

I graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University in 2024, specializing in Art History and History. I hail originally from Seattle, where I first fell in love with East Asian art, particularly Japanese art. I am so grateful to finally specialize in East Asian art, and I hope to become a curator. I attended public school, and I'm not from a wealthy background so this scholarship has been very important for me and my family.

Thank you so, so much for your support. It has completely reshaped my time at the Courtauld and allowed me to fully focus on my studies, which has been transformative. I've learned an incredible amount and have been able to take advantage of many opportunities, including working with the Courtauld Gallery, joining societies, exploring London, and traveling abroad. Thank you for making this all possible! I am unbelievably grateful.

Looking back on my year at the Courtauld, I can confirm that time flies when you are having fun. I have enjoyed every element of ‘The Surrealist Century’ MA group seminars and one-to-one tutorials, the course trip to Paris, and independent research. I have achieved good results in my essays and virtual exhibition project and, maybe even more importantly, I have learnt a lot. My dissertation on Anton Prinner—a fascinating and relatively forgotten artist—has involved learning about ancient Egypt, Occupied France, magic, alchemy and the tarot, as well as reviving my high school French language skills. 

Receiving a scholarship increased my confidence in my academic ability. My tuition fees being fully funded has allowed me to focus on my studies without having to juggle a degree and a job and has significantly reduced my future student loan repayment. The scholarship has made the Courtauld MA a mostly stress-free experience. It meant that I did not hesitate to extend my stay in Paris for two days after the end of the course trip in order to do archival research for my dissertation, or get a ticket for a Surrealism conference in Wakefield. I feel incredibly lucky.

My journey to the Courtauld began with studying History of Art at the University of Cambridge where I did a paper on Surrealism and discovered that I loved it. When I saw ‘The Surrealist Century’ MA special option at the Courtauld, I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me to specialize. I was one year out of university, working full-time at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh (where I’d moved with my parents, from Essex), so coming to the Courtauld meant moving to a new city and being a student once more. It has been a wonderful experience. I am sad it is over, but excited to see what’s next. I’m currently looking for work that in some way uses my degree and keeping an eye out for PhD opportunities. 

I can’t thank you enough for your support! I am extremely grateful for this most generous scholarship, and I have thanked the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for its support in the acknowledgements page of my dissertation. My dissertation focuses on two illustrated books by Anton Prinner which were published in post-war Paris: La Femme tondue (1946) and Prinner’s version of the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead (1948).