All upcoming Seminars

John Milton’s Paradise Lost from 1667 is generally considered to be the greatest epic poem in the English language. Literature professor Joseph Luzzi explores Milton’s relation to ancient literature, rewriting of religious doctrine, and place in the political and social upheavals of his era. He also discusses Milton’s blindness and his role as a pamphleteer.

Though best known for his psychologically revealing self-portraits, Rembrandt was also an unrivaled master of light and shadow and expressive, luxuriant brushwork, qualities that would be emulated by generations of later artists. Art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine explores the most distinctive aspects of Rembrandt’s artistic language through an analysis of some of his greatest masterpieces—from public commissions to his representations of stories from classical and biblical history to his most private of works. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Vincent van Gogh spent 1886 to 1888 living in Paris with his brother Theo. Drawn into a social and artistic circle of like-minded rising painters that he called the Painters of the Petit Boulevard, van Gogh’s immersion in the world of the avant-garde helped him define his own style and technique. Art historian Bonita Billman explores why these years in Paris were among the most influential in van Gogh’s brief life. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

The words Gilded Age capture it all: A golden era of opulent architecture, extravagant fashions, stunning art, and above all, the wealth that made it possible. Art historian Bonita Billman examines the art, architecture, fashion, and interior design of the upper crust during this period between 1870 and 1912 and explores the dramatic distance between their lives and those on the other end of the social and economic scales. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

The age of the Baroque roughly coincides with the 17th century, one of the most transformational periods in European history. Despite the many variants of this style, its most salient features include emphasis on sensual richness, drama, movement, and emotional exuberance. Art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine discusses the main currents of Baroque art in Italy, Spain, France, and Holland and how they reflected significant social and cultural developments sparked by forces including religion, government, global exploration, and science. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)