Smithsonian Associates speaker Paul Glenshaw returns to the Art + History series to look at great works of art in their historical context. In this program, Glenshaw explores one of the most iconic patriotic images in American art—and one of the most reproduced—to reveal a surprising history that includes its creation in, of all places, Germany. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
From the classical villas of ancient Rome to the landscaped estates of the Renaissance, artists and patrons have long sought to bring sculpture into dialogue with nature. Art historian Jennie Hirsh traces the history and vision behind three of the world’s most inspiring contemporary sculpture gardens: Storm King Art Center in upstate New York, Glenstone Museum in Potomac, Maryland, and Château La Coste near Aix-en-Provence. These sites reveal how artists and architects continue to redefine the possibilities of sculpture, scale, and place, offering a compelling perspective on the interplay between art and landscape. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Liguria is best known for its idyllic seaside towns along the Italian Riviera, from such famed locales as Portofino and Rapallo to humbler fishing towns like Camogli. Art historian Sophia D’Addio surveys the history of the capital city of the region, Genoa, as one of the major maritime powers of the Italian peninsula during the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. She also celebrates its chief culinary achievement: pesto. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
This class prepares you to create your next mixed-media masterpiece. You are encouraged to take risks and work beyond your traditional practice in pursuit of developing your personal language. The techniques you learn can be applied to a variety of subject matter and styles and surfaces to create your own artistic statement.
Celebrate Michelangelo’s 551st birthday by exploring the making of one of history’s most brilliant artistic minds. Born on March 6, 1475, Michelangelo Buonarroti lived nearly 89 years, witnessing Renaissance Florence, the discovery of the New World, the Reformation, and the reigns of 13 popes. He transformed Western art through sculpture, painting, architecture, and poetry. Though many believed his talent miraculous, Michelangelo studied with discipline, learning from masters and experimenting with styles. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo traces the journey of young Michelangelo from Lorenzo il Magnifico’s household to his masterpiece, the “David.” (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Discover the power of reflective writing guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. Inspired by 20th-century artist Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings of the New Mexican desert, participants slow down, look closely, and reflect on the transformative power of place in our lives.
Drawing on one of the greatest Post-Impressionist and early modern art collections in the world, Barnes Foundation educator Penny Hansen guides a five-part series of online tours that examine the paintings of artists who helped shape a revolutionary period in the history of art. High-definition Deep Zoom technology provides close-up views of their canvases. This session highlights Henri Matisse.
The Victorians prided themselves on interest in technology and innovations in medicine and science, though the line between pseudo-science and academic knowledge was thin. Historian Julie Taddeo highlights fads like mesmerism, phrenology, and spiritualism, showing how science was consumed as entertainment. Homes displayed “trophies of empire,” while public shows misused Darwin’s theories to justify imperial expansion and Britain’s “civilizing mission.” Queen Victoria followed scientific sensations, and ordinary Britons used them to navigate uncertainty. From mummy unveilings to “Zulu exhibitions,” science, empire, and entertainment intertwined.
