It’s hard to identify the je ne sais quoi that gives Paris its powerful appeal. What elements at its heart have set it apart over the centuries? A wealth of landmark churches from the great Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris to the delicate Sainte-Chapelle with its stunning stained-glass windows? Perhaps it’s the Art Nouveau entrances designed by architect Hector Guimard that frame the Paris Metro stations. Or the Centre Pompidou, famous for its unique inside-out architecture marked by colorful exterior pipes and an industrial vibe. It might also be the city’s propensity to transform itself. For example, the Louvre—a medieval fortress, then royal residence, then world-class museum—was again reimagined with the addition of I.M. Pei’s controversial pyramid-shaped entrance.
Janetta Rebold Benton, distinguished professor of art history at Pace University, unravels Paris's evolution into a global cultural icon, delving into its history of art and architecture shaped by remarkable creators. From the Middle Ages to today, she illuminates the enduring allure and timeless secrets of the City of Light.
March 22
1:30–2:30 p.m. Medieval and Renaissance Paris
Learn how Roman Lutetia became Paris. It was among Europe’s largest cities until its population was decimated by bubonic plague and ravaged by the Hundred Years War. The University of Paris was founded ca.1150, making it one of Europe’s oldest. The Gothic style of art and architecture was developed here, complemented by stained glass windows. The original Louvre was built as a fortress to protect the royal family.
2:45–4 p.m. Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassicism
During the 17th-century reign of Louis XIII, Paris solidified its reputation as Europe’s cultural capital. The luxurious Luxembourg Palace and gardens were created, along with the Place de la Concorde, Les Invalides, and Place Vendôme. Parisian artists included Charles Le Brun, Rococo favorite Honoré Fragonard, and Jacques-Louis David, who painted scenes of the French Revolution. Political and cultural power, which had been moved to Versailles by Louis XIV, was returned to Paris as the revolution began. Emperor Napoleon I commissions the Arc de Triomphe in 1806.
March 29
1:30–2:30 p.m. Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism
Emperor Napoleon III chose Georges-Eugene Haussmann in 1853 to carry out a massive modernization program of boulevards, parks, and public works in Paris, and a spectacular transformation began. Narrow medieval streets gave way to broad boulevards lined with monumental buildings such as the grand Baroque Revival opera house Palais Garnier, where Edgar Degas’s painted ballerinas might have danced. Engineer Gustave Eiffel built the tower that became the city’s enduring symbol. Montmartre became an artists’ mecca, and the risqué nightlife of its Moulin Rouge inspired paintings by Toulouse Lautrec. Cartoonist Honoré Daumier depicted daily life while Monet, Renoir, and other Impressionist painters moved outdoors for inspiration.
2:45–4 p.m. The 20th Century
Art Nouveau entrances adorn the Paris Metro. Famous artists made Paris home, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Georges Rouault, Constantin Brancusi, Fernand Leger, Marcel Duchamp, Alberto Giacometti, Victor Vasarely, and Mary Cassatt. The Pompidou—a cultural center built inside out—opens in 1977 and breaks the rules of architectural design. Frank Gehry's futuristic glass and metal Fondation Louis Vuitton opens in 2014.
2 sessions
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1 credit*
General Information
*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.
