The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn or UPenn) is a private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of nine colonial colleges chartered prior to the U.S. Declaration of Independence when Benjamin Franklin, the university's founder and first president, advocated for an educational institution that trained leaders in academia, commerce, and public service. Penn identifies as the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, though this representation is challenged by other universities. Benjamin Franklin and other Philadelphians established the university in 1749, which would make it the fifth-oldest institution of higher education in the U.S.
Located within the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, the Department of Art and Art History offers a vibrant setting for engaging with visual culture. It provides comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs aimed at developing critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and creative abilities. The department features two main areas: Art History, dedicated to the scholarly study of art across diverse periods and cultures, and Fine Arts, which emphasizes hands-on artistic practice in various media such as painting, sculpture, and digital art. Supported by distinguished faculty and excellent facilities, students benefit from a rich, interdisciplinary approach to understanding and creating art within its historical contexts.
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