Art History
The backbone to our catalogue of courses are The Great Masters of European Art 1350–1850 and Modern Art and 'Old Mistresses': Fame, Fortune, and Female Artists 1500–1900. These courses will introduce you to many of the major periods of European art history from the early Renaissance to the surrealism of Salvador Dalí. These three courses were made for the art lover who wants to know more: they provide a vibrant and extensively illustrated view of the great art of the West.
The Great Masters of European Art 1350-1850 is comprised of six lavishly-produced lessons, where you will journey from the Early Renaissance in Italy through to Romanticism in Britain, being introduced along the way to those artists we call the great masters. Through extensive illustrations, you will develop an understanding of the major styles they have come to represent, and their influence on successive generations of artists.
Modern Art introduces you to the many artistic movements that erupted in European painting during the first half of the twentieth century and the major artists associated with them. You will learn about the development of Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Dada and Surrealism – and more. At the same time, you’ll be introduced to those working with modern art today, and those who developed the market for it in the 20th century.
'Old Mistresses': Fame, Fortune, and Female Artists 1500–1900, a thoughtful challenge to art history's male-centric "Old Masters," beckons you to journey through four centuries of art created by talented women. This distinctive course illuminates the often unsung female artists who bravely contested their era's societal boundaries. Convened and presented by favourite online tutor Jacqui Ansell, this course seeks to enhance and diversify our established art history repertoire, spotlighting artists and interpretations frequently bypassed in traditional accounts.