Renaissance Art

In this class you will become familiar with some of the most famous works of art from the Renaissance. This class will mostly highlight Florence of the 14th and 15th centuries, as it was established as the intellectual and artistic center of Europe. The class will begin with Giotto and the foundations set in the pre-Renaissance and end just as the High Renaissance did in Rome with the creation of the Sistine Chapel and the new St. Peters.

This class is for anyone particularly interested in art from this period. Maybe you took an art history course in college and you have always wanted to learn more. Maybe you have been on a trip to Italy and it made you more curious about art or maybe you are planning a future trip and want to learn more about what you will see. Maybe you just want to learn something new. Whatever the reason, we will be transported each week to a magnificent period 500 years ago, to a time of high art, and culture that still makes a mark on our world today.

We will overview the art in the context of history, the artistic techniques, and the role of the artist and patron. We will highlight Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, and more. We will look at some of the greatest works of the period and talk about the genius in the architecture, sculpture, fresco, and the development of oil painting. This class will only scratch the surface of depth and works that make up the Renaissance but it will be a great overview of the period and give you a better understanding of what was the environment that cultivated the artists and works and why it is truly unlike any other time in history.