All upcoming World Art History Certificate: Electives programs

Smithsonian Associates speaker Paul Glenshaw returns to the Art + History series to look at great works of art in their historical context. In examining John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence, he presents two narratives in tandem: the story of the Declaration of Independence and the events preceding and directly after July 4, 1776, and how they ultimately intersected with the multifaceted career of Trumbull, a soldier, artist, and diplomat who was on a first-name basis with the founders of the country. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Artistic patronage was an important tool in a Renaissance pope’s arsenal, employed both to display power and to communicate and persuade. Art historian Liz Lev looks at the fruitful connection between popes and art from the halcyon days of 15th-century Popes Sixtus IV and Julius II to the Enlightenment era, examining a variety of masterworks including the Laocoön statue and frescoes by Botticelli and Raphael. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

When figures represent abstract concepts—such as justice, envy, or time—an artwork enters the world of allegory. Art historian Noah Charney breaks down how allegories were constructed by artists and contrasts Titian’s straightforward Allegory of Prudence with a brilliant and baffling painting by Bronzino, Allegory with Venus and Cupid, a multilayered complex riddle. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Few movements have defined a region’s identity as clearly as California Modernism. From the 1920s through the 1960s, noted contemporary architects, designers, and developers transformed Los Angeles into a showcase of modern living. Using glass, steel, and concrete, they created homes that embodied clarity, openness, and light. Art historian Jennie Hirsh explores the generation of architectural visionaries who reshaped the modern landscape of design across California and beyond. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

With the advent of the Jazz Age, the art world searched for modern forms to reflect an exciting new era. They were found in bold geometric shapes and in contemporary technology and material as Art Deco quickly reflected sleek modern living, the machine age, and the skyscraper. Art historian Bonita Billman unfolds this innovative international movement in architecture, furniture, interiors, fashions, advertising, and films. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest Marian church in Rome and houses one of the most important icons of Mary, the Salus Populi Romani, traditionally attributed to Saint Luke the Evangelist, the patron saint of painters. Seven popes as well as Bernini are entombed in the basilica. Italian Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero highlights the importance of Santa Maria Maggiore through its history, architecture, and works of art. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Lombardy’s capital of Milan is one of the most cosmopolitan of the Italian peninsula, and the region is an important center for business, industry, media, fashion, design, and agricultural production, rendering it Italy’s wealthiest. Art historian Sophia D’Addio spotlights Lombardy’s rich artistic legacy in cities including Bergamo, Cremona, and Mantua. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, two key figures of postwar British art, shared a complex personal and artistic bond. Art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine explores this relationship by examining their distinct approaches to painting—Bacon’s expressive style contrasted with Freud’s painstaking realism. Despite their differences, both artists were fascinated by the human figure, and their mutual admiration sparked a rivalry that shaped their artistic trajectories. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Beat the winter blues and immerse yourself in the warmth of creativity at two of Baltimore’s cultural gems: the Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art. The visit to the Walters includes a special tour of the “Latin American Art/Arte Latinoamericano” exhibition. The Baltimore Museum of Art visit includes the opportunity to see the Cone Collection, which includes 500 works by Matisse. This tour is led by art historian Tosca Ruggieri. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)