All upcoming World Art History Certificate: Electives programs

Experience a unique adventure with Paul Glenshaw inspired by his Smithsonian Associates’ Art + History series. Join him on visits to several distinctive sites around the Washington, D.C. area as he reveals hidden stories, lesser-known facts, and fascinating connections among art, architecture, and the historical moments they represent. What’s not revealed in advance are the destinations. Are you game for this artfully secretive—but rewarding­—excursion? (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Originally part of the residence of the Medici dynasty, the Palatine Gallery encompasses the entire second floor of the Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy. Its collection includes the largest concentration of paintings by Raphael in the world, as well as works by Titian, Tintoretto, Caravaggio and Rubens. Italian Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero discusses some of these magnificent pieces of art. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Claude Monet created his enchanting Water Lilies series with the intention to provide an “asylum of peaceful meditation.” However, the calm and beauty of these luminous works belie the personal loss, turmoil, frustration, and anguish Monet endured in the last 15 years of his life. Author Ross King explores how, despite these travails, Monet turned to his art once again—and continued until his death in 1926. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

The Renaissance is often linked to antiquity’s rediscovery, but art historian Liz Lev argues its roots lay in mendicant orders emphasizing the Gospel’s human elements. St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscans, embodied holiness that “went viral,” inspiring Giotto and Dante to reform art, highlighting the human condition with its quirks and heroic journeys. By weaving The Divine Comedy with frescoes in Assisi and Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel, Lev contends Renaissance art’s most compelling features arose from new spirituality rather than pagan revival. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

The Massachusetts 54th Regiment, one of the first African American units in the Civil War, fought under Col. Robert Gould Shaw, a white officer who shared their commitment to freedom. They famously led the July 1863 assault on Fort Wagner, where nearly half, including Shaw, were killed. Paul Glenshaw examines how Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Shaw Memorial, unveiled in 1897 on Boston Common, honored their sacrifice with individualized portraits of the soldiers. At its dedication, the memorial reflected a growing recognition of Black soldiers’ valor and the war’s legacy of emancipation. (World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit)

Miami Beach boasts the world’s largest concentration of Art Deco architecture—a pastel landscape of curves, geometry, and seaside style. Urban historian Bill Keene examines Art Deco as a nationwide phenomenon and traces the creation, decline, and revival of the city’s distinctive quarter—designated a U.S. historic district in 1979—and the unique brand of “Tropical Deco” that emerged and thrived there. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

For centuries, the central Italian region of Abruzzo has preserved some of Italy’s most exquisite and symbolic goldsmithing traditions. From the presentosa, a star-shaped pendant given as a love token, to the intricate filigree work worn by women as markers of social status and regional identity, Abruzzese jewelry is a living chronicle of history, devotion, and craftsmanship. In a presentation illustrated by images of heirloom pieces, cultural historian Viviana Altieri explores the origins, meanings, and social significance of traditional gold jewelry from Abruzzo. (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)

Discover three of New York City's most renowned cultural treasures. Spend an afternoon at the Frick Collection with artwork spanning from the Renaissance to the early 20th century; get a private tour of the Neue Galerie New York before opening hours to see the main collection and a special exhibition of German masterworks from 1890 to 1940; and take a guided tour of the Morgan Library & Museum, then explore its 350,000-plus illuminated manuscripts, rare books, manuscripts, and drawings on your own. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Raphael, one of the High Renaissance’s great masters alongside Michelangelo and Leonardo, rose from Perugino’s apprentice in Urbino to the favored artist of popes and princes. In just two decades, he synthesized influences into serene compositions and ideal beauty, leaving a legacy of harmony and grace before his death at 37. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo explores his extraordinary ascent—from early apprenticeships under Perugino to encounters with Michelangelo and Leonardo in Florence, and finally to his crowning achievements in Rome. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)