All upcoming Biography & Autobiography programs

Described by Cicero more than 2,000 years ago as a promiscuous, husband-murdering harlot, Clodia of Rome led a powerful, complex life. Classicist Douglas Boin argues that Cicero lied about her to protect his own property and interests. Drawing on neglected sources and his study of Roman lives, Boin recounts events from Clodia’s privileged childhood and describes how she engaged in her family’s tradition of egalitarian activism.

Humphrey Bogart and Burt Lancaster became Hollywood legends in very different ways. “Bogie” was shoved around by the old studio system, playing tough guys who often hid a softer core. Lancaster rose as stars gained more freedom, dazzling audiences with quiet intensity and magnetic charm. In a 2-session series, film historian Max Alvarez examines their cinematic achievements and the personal and professional turbulence that shaped their artistry. This session focuses on Burt Lancaster.

French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin worked in Brittany’s Pont-Aven and later with Vincent van Gogh in Arles until he decided to travel to Tahiti in 1891. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar discusses Gauguin’s many travels with the French Navy and his time as a successful stockbroker before committing himself to painting. Focusing on Gauguin’s main masterpieces and his legacy, Cassar also provides a critical analysis of the works created by the artist during his visits to Tahiti. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Viktor Frankl (1905–1997) was a philosopher, practicing therapist, and author of 39 books, including A Psychologist’s Experiences in the Concentration Camp, chronicling his imprisonment during World War II. He created the theory and exercise of logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that described a search for life’s meaning and purpose as a central human dynamic. Historian and author Dennis B. Klein reviews Frankl’s work, exploring how meaning-making can respond to what he called “inner emptiness.”

Winslow Homer remains one of the most celebrated American artists of the 19th century, renowned for his evocative portrayals of everyday life and the natural world. Rather than focus on society’s elite, Homer turned his attention to ordinary Americans, capturing them with honesty, restraint, and quiet empathy. Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton traces Homer’s artistic evolution, his commitment to American Realism, and his enduring legacy as a painter of elemental truths. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Best known for her mesmerizing wire sculptures that blur the line between drawing and sculpture, Ruth Asawa created a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. A second-generation Japanese American, Asawa endured incarceration during World War II and emerged with a lifelong commitment to the transformative power of art and education. Art historian Jennie Hirsh traces Asawa’s journey as an artist, activist, and educator. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

The name John Hay may not be a familiar one, but his impact on American history is profound. He moved from being a confidant of Abraham Lincoln to Secretary of State under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt to negotiator of the treaties that granted the United States exclusive rights to build the Panama Canal. Historian Ralph Nurnberger examines the remarkable life and legacy of a key architect of American power whose diplomatic vision propelled the nation onto the world stage.

Beginning in the late 19th century, French artist Henri Rousseau crafted lush jungle scenes and evocative landscapes that bridged the gap between fantasy and reality, influencing a broad spectrum of artists. Barnes Foundation docent Joe Caliva leads a discussion of “Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets,” a special exhibition at the museum. Caliva delves into Rousseau’s career and the exhibition, which reunites paintings from collections around the globe. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther famously (and perhaps apocryphally) nailed his 95 Theses condemning papal indulgences to the Wittenberg Castle Church door, giving the Protestant Reformation its official starting date. But the true story of reform is more complicated, and Luther the man more controversial. Historian Amy Leonard of Georgetown University reviews the history and historiography of the Protestant Reformation and Luther’s place within it.

Andrea Palladio’s villas, palaces, and churches encompass the mathematical harmony, classical inspiration, and humanist ideals that defined the Renaissance in Italy. His architectural language crossed eras and oceans, inspiring everything from English country estates to American civic buildings and even the White House. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo explores Palladio’s life, works, and philosophy, revealing how a former stonemason from Vicenza shaped the foundations of Western architecture. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)