The History of Western Art

Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton leads a two-session survey of Western art from prehistory to the present day. Explore the constantly evolving aesthetic preferences that swing between naturalism and abstraction; unravel the stories behind some of the world’s most iconic artwork; and discover the profound impact they have had on our understanding of art and society.

March 16

1:30–2:30 p.m.  Prehistoric Through Ancient Roman Art

From the caves to the Colosseum, the earliest civilizations lay the foundations of Western art and culture: Prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. (The Woman of Willendorf and the Great Pyramids, Parthenon, and Pantheon.)

2:45–4 p.m.  Early Christian Through Medieval Art

The Christian Church shapes the art of the Middle Ages in Western Europe: Early Christian, early medieval, Romanesque, and Gothic art. (Old Saint Peter’s, the Book of Kells, Saint-Sernin in Toulouse, and Notre-Dame in Paris.)

March 23

1:30–2:30 p.m. Renaissance Through Neoclassical Art

The dawn of the age of science adds new dimensions to viewing the world, both intellectual and emotional: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical art. (Leonardo da Vinci, Artemisia Gentileschi, Rembrandt, François Boucher, and Jacques-Louis David.)

2:45–4 p.m. Romanticism to Today’s Art

Political and social upheavals produce a multitude of key events in history: Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and 20th- and early 21st-century art. (Delacroix, Winslow Homer, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Hilma af Klint, Pablo Picasso, and Zaha Hadid.)

Benton is the distinguished professor of art history at Pace University, New York.

Her book The History of Western Art (Thames & Hudson, London) is available for purchase.

2 sessions

World Art History Certificate core course: Earn 1 credit*

Book Sale Information

• Purchase your copy of The History of Western Art by Janetta Rebold Benton here.
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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.