Our modern world echoes and even replicates the creative vestiges of the past—from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to Wedgwood pottery, from the paintings of Pablo Picasso to the Washington Monument. What was the inspiration for all of these works? The key to understanding our surroundings is through an overview of ancient material culture. Focusing on the Mediterranean region, art historian Renee Gondek surveys art from the Greek “Dark Ages” through the early Christian period of ancient Rome.

May 10  The Dark Ages and Archaic Greece

Though evidence of artistic production is scarce during the Dark Ages, the ancient site of Lefkandi reveals the skills and prosperity of its ancient inhabitants. From the geometric to the archaic period, Greek art progresses from rudimentary, geometric shapes to more naturalistic (albeit rigid) works, like the koroi and korae. Along with these marble forms, survey the art of vase-painting in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C., which include masterpieces like the François vase and the famous Euphronios krater (formerly exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art).

May 17  From the Classical to Hellenistic Period

During the ancient Greek classsical period, appreciation for the human figure is reflected in sculptor Polykleitos’s Doryphoro and the forms on the Parthenon. In time, however, artists became more interested in investing their art with motion, emotion, and drama. The Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and the twisted shape of the Laocoön exemplify this trend.

May 24  Rome: Early City and Domestic Spaces 

Rome’s earliest creations in art and architecture demonstrate how they adopted and transformed traditional Greek forms, generating entirely new creations. Such composite works include the Temple of Portunus in Rome, the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia in Palestrina, and sculpted portraits like the Portrait of a Roman General from Tivoli and the Pseudo-athlete of Delos. A discussion of the dwellings of the Roman elite highlights domestic architecture and the styles of ancient frescoes.

May 31  The Roman Empire and Late Antiquity

Imperial monuments like the Ara Pacis, Column of Trajan, Pantheon, and Arch of Constantine communicated the power of the Roman empire—and the political power of certain ancient Romans. Early Christian art in the late antiquity replicates as well as rejects the traditional Classical aesthetic with works like the sarcophagus of Junius Bassus and the interior of Santa Sabina in Rome.

4 sessions

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit*

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*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1 core course credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.