The Courtauld Institute of Art, founded in 1932, is the established centre in Britain for the study of the history of European art, and has a strong international reputation. It is constituted as an integral part of the federal University of London. The offices and fine rooms which are now used by the Courtauld Institute and its Gallery are rich in historical associations and were originally designed to house the Royal Academy and other learned societies. The Institute has a teaching staff of twenty-five, who between them cover the full range of the arts and architecture of the Western world from classical antiquity to the present day. The approaches of members of staff range from the close examination of individual works and artists to the study of the many theoretical issues raised by the history of art.
Art history is treated as an interdisciplinary subject and as a branch of history.
The Courtauld Gallery is open Monday Saturday, 10am 6pm, and Sundays and Bank Holidays 12 6pm. Last admission 5.15 pm. The Institute of Commonwealth Studies is devoted to the study of the British Commonwealth, both historically and in its changed and changing forms. The Institute is a member of the University of London School of Advanced Study. The Institute of Latin American Studies, established in 1965, is a member of the University of London s School of Advanced Study.