Art and Commerce
Code: 43007Credits: 10
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis and Management of Artistic Heritage | OP | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Jaime Vidal Oliveras
- Email :
- jaime.vidal@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Buenaventura Bassegoda Hugas
- Jaime Vidal Oliveras
- Francesc Miralpeix Vilamala
Teaching staff (external to UAB)
- Ignasi Domènech
- Manuel J. Borja-Villel
- Marc Domènech
- Joana Roda
- Carolina Díez-Cascón
- Pere Canal
- Elena Escolar
- Natalia Chocarro
- Jordi Carreras
- Maria Rosa Malet
- Artur Ramon
- Violant Porcel
- Albert Martí Palau
- Francesc Fontbona
- Bernat Daviu
- Sergi Clavell
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
None
Objectives
This module aims to offer basic notions regarding the functioning of the art market and the collecting of artistic objects with heritage value. It includes the participation of various professionals related to the market and collecting: antiquarians (Artur Ramon, Albert Martí Palau, and Sergi Clavell), art fair managers (Carolina Díez Cascón), gallerists (Marc Domènech), an expert in the contemporary art market and online sales (V. Porcel and Carolina Díez Cascón), an auction house professional (Jordi Carreras), and an officer from the Mossos d’Esquadra Heritage Unit. The course is completed with a practical workshop at the Fundació Miró to learn about the protocols for certifying the authenticity of Miró's graphic works (Elena Escobar).
Learning outcomes
- (CA14) Catalogue artistic and collector's assets and their subsequent commercial management.
- (CA15) Plan a specific project according to the nature of the artistic assets and according to current legislation.
- (KA13) Recognise the rules, codes of ethics of good trade and regulations related to the market of national and international artistic and collectible goods.
- (KA14) Explain the art market as an ecosystem made up of multiple interconnected agents: press, collecting, institutions, among others.
- (KA15) Identify crimes that affect historical heritage: looting, plundering, forgery, etc.
- (SA12) Use procedures and tools to assign cultural and economic value to artistic objects.
- (SA13) Differentiate forgeries from art and collectibles, including a historical perspective of the art market, its impact and responsibilities.
- (SA14) Use the legal regulations related to investment in artistic and collectible assets: money laundering, returns, circulation of artistic assets and international regulations on the protection of historical heritage.
Contents
Program:
1. Presentation of the course. The art market. The notion of the ecosystem/art system. The agents: criticism, galleries, auctions, museums, etc. (Jaume Vidal Oliveras UAB)
2. The study of the collecting phenomenon. Status of the issue in Catalonia. (B. Bassegoda UAB).
3. The Vila Casas Foundation. An initiative of collecting and patronage. (Natalia Chocarro). Director of External Projects of the Vila Casas Foundation)
4. Institutional collecting. (Manuel Borja museum advisor to the Department of Culture of the Generalitat (
5. The market and art galleries in Barcelona from the origins until the 20th century. (Francesc Fontbona/Jaume Vidal Oliveras).
6. Galeria Marc Domènech, as a consolidated gallery model (Marc Domènech)
7. The Bombon Project Gallery as an innovative gallery model. (Joana Roda, responsible for the gallery)
8.. Sales in public auctions. The experience of the Balclis house. (Jordi Carreras. Balclis, Barcelona)
9.. Online sales (Carolina Díez-Cascón)
10 The persecution of crimes against artistic and archaeological heritage. Pere Canal (Central Unit of Historical Heritage. Mossos d’Esquadra, Generalitat de Catalunya). 9.
11.The antique trade. (Artur Ramon, Artur Ramon Art)
12 The appraisal of works of art (Artur Ramon, Artur Ramon Art)
13. The market of works of art on paper. (Albert Martí Palau. Antiquities Palace)
14 The great international art fairs. (Violant Porcel, specialist in contemporary art)
15 Barcelona Modern and Ancient Art Fair (Sergi Clavell, antique dealer and head of the fair)
16 SWAB an emerging art fair (Carolina Díez-Cascón, head of Swab)
17. The expertise of works of art. The case of the work of Joan Miró. Elena Escolar (Conservator of the Fundació Joan Miróand Rosa Maria Malet, ofthe Association pour la Défense de l’Oeuvre de Joan Miró).
18 Closing of the course: summary and conclusions (Jaume VidalOliveras)
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Guided | |||
| Classroom-based classes | 6 | 0.24 | CA14, CA15, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14 |
| Departures to visit collections, galleries and auction houses | 32 | 1.28 | CA14, CA15, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14 |
Lecture-based classes, open to student participation, and field trips to visit collections, galleries, auction houses, etc.
Note: Fifteen minutes of a class, within the calendar established by the centre/degree programme, will be reserved for students to complete the evaluation surveys for the teaching staff's performance and the course
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A short paper —with the relevant tutorials— demonstrating the student's ability to develop knowledge and skills related to the module's topics. | 50% | 162 | 6.48 | CA14, CA15, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14 |
| Attendance and active participation in class | 20% | 50 | 2 | CA14, CA15, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14 |
| Final course report | 30% | 0 | 0 | CA14, CA15, KA13, KA14, KA15, SA12, SA13, SA14 |
Class attendance and active participation: 20%
Tutorials and supervision of an individual assignment: a short paper demonstrating the student's ability to develop knowledge and skills related to these topics. It can be a study on a collector, a museum, a gallery, or an antiquarian; or a practical exercise in cataloguing and appraising a work of art, or managing a legal or promotional issue regarding a piece or collection, etc. The chosen topic must be determined by mutual agreement between the module coordinator and the student as soon as possible after classes begin: 50%
Final course report: an individual reflection where you will compile the key aspects of this course. This is not a mere summary of the theoretical contents, but an exercise in self-assessment and awareness of the knowledge acquired (between 3 and 5 pages): 30%
Throughout the term, other mandatory or optional field trips or visits may be organised depending on the students' interests and the exhibition calendar. Likewise, the Master's coordination may also schedule new lectures by guest professors. In this regard, visiting the following art fairs is essential: Swab (October 2026), Loop Barcelona (November 2026), Arts Libris (October/November 2026), or festivals such as Barcelona Gallery Weekend (September 2026).
Plagiarism and academic irregularities
In the event that students commit any irregularity (plagiarism, unauthorized use of artificial intelligence, copying, etc.) that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an assessment activity, this activity will be graded with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be initiated. If several irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for this course will be 0.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This course allows the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies exclusively for bibliographical searches, information gathering, text correction, or translations, always at the discretion of the teaching staff. Students must:
- Clearly identify the sections that have been generated or processed using AI.
- Specify the tools used.
- Include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity.
A lack of transparency regarding AI use in any assessable activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity. It will result in a grade of 0 for the activity with no option for reassessment, and may lead to major sanctions in more severe cases.
Adaptation to virtual teaching
In the event that assessment tests (or the course itself) cannot be conducted in person, their format will be adapted to the possibilities offered by the UAB's virtual tools, while maintaining the original weighting. Homework, activities, and class participation will take place through forums, wikis, or discussions via Microsoft Teams, among others. The teaching staff will ensure that students can access these tools or, if necessary, will provide alternative means within their reach.
Single assessment
This course/module does not offer a single assessment system
Bibliography
The bibliography will be provided and discussed in class
Software
No specific software is necessary. Although unlikely, if required later in the course this would be indicated in due time.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TEm) Theory (master) | 1 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |