Course description
Art History: Renaissance to Present explores the highlights of European and American art from the early Renaissance to 19th century Romanticism and through to the Modern Age.
Focusing on the paintings of masters including Giotto, Dürer, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Delacroix, Manet, Gauguin, Picasso, Pollock, Warhol, and others, you discover the impact of the classical past, the interrelationship between stylistic developments, and the broader cultural, intellectual, and historical context in which art emerged.
This course emphasizes the technical progress that defines each historical era, revealing the fascinating aesthetic advancements made possible by the materials and methods available in each art period. For those new to art history, this course provides a solid underpinning for analyzing, interpreting, and appreciating paintings.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
For successfully completing this course, you receive a verified Certificate of Completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art as well as 3.9 IACET Continuing Education Units. *
Our digital certificates allow you to share new skills with various social media platforms, including LinkedIn. Successful completion is defined by each instructor in the course syllabus and consists, at the least, of regular, thoughtful participation in online activities and timely submission of assigned papers or projects.
*As an IACET Accredited Provider, Sotheby’s Institute of Art offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.
Training Course Content
Week 1: Explore the technique of fresco painting through an analysis of Antique Fresco to Late Gothic altarpieces.
Week 2: Discuss oil painting techniques, focusing on perspective and realism during the European Renaissance.
Week 3: Uncover the methods of chiaroscuro techniques in Baroque Era painting.
Week 4: Explore 19th century painting techniques and methods of uncovering underpaintings and surfaces.
Week 5: Examine abstraction through action painting and the challenges of matte paint.
Week 6: Learn about the use of synthetic paints and monochrome surfaces from the Pop art movement through the present day.
Course delivery details
Award-winning online course
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Sotheby's Institute of Art
Sotheby’s auction house was founded in 1744 when Samuel Baker, an entrepreneur, occasional publisher, and successful businessman held his first auction. Today at Sotheby’s Institute, we emphasize a keen understanding of an object’s value and history, a spirit of inquiry...