Egyptian. Fragment of the Coffin of Tantwenemherti (detail), 1075–712 BCE. The Barnes Foundation, BF468. Public Domain.
$100; members $90
(3 modules)
About the Class
The Barnes may be known for its modern paintings, but it also houses a remarkable array of ancient artifacts—some more than 3,000 years old. In this course, you’ll explore ceramic vessels, limestone carvings, and marble sculptures from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. These objects, often overlooked, reveal timeless stories of power, belief, beauty, and everyday life. You’ll emerge with a deeper understanding of ancient creativity—and how it still shapes the way we see the world.
About the Experience
- Self-Paced Learning: Access all modules anytime, anywhere, on any device. Watch and rewatch sessions at your own pace.
- Short, Impactful Videos: Each module includes five video sessions ranging from 5 to 15 minutes.
- Immersive Visual Exploration: The Barnes’s state-of-the-art Visual Experience Platform (VXP) allows you to see an extraordinary level of detail.
- Interactive Lessons: You’ll be prompted to pause videos and dive deeper into each artwork, practicing the Barnes Method as you go.
Watch this brief introduction to the course and read more below.
Modules
Module 1
The Fertile and Sacred Desert in Ancient Egypt (5 videos, 57 minutes total)
Travel back to the era of the great pyramids to learn more about the archaeological and historical contexts of the Egyptian works in the Barnes collection (including a few forgeries!).
Module 2
Humans as the Measure of All Things in Ancient Greece (5 videos, 47 minutes total)
Uncover ancient ideas of beauty and harmony in Greek ceramics and marble sculptures made thousands of years ago.
Module 3
Art and Power in Ancient Rome (5 videos, 38 minutes total)
Discover the artistic power and geographic reach of ancient Rome by looking closely at sculptures of the gods and objects associated with everyday life.
Instructor
Kaelin Jewell
Jewell is a senior instructor in adult education at the Barnes and has been teaching art history for nearly 15 years. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in photography and art history from the University of Louisville’s Hite Institute of Art and Design and earned her PhD in ancient and medieval art history from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. Jewell is also a trained archaeologist and has worked on projects in the American Midwest and Sicily.
Go Further
In Focus: Henri Rousseau
Study Rousseau’s enigmatic paintings using our state-of-the-art interactive platform. Zoom in on his strange imagery, and discover why Rousseau continues to captivate.
The Art of Looking: An Introduction to the Barnes Method
This interactive online course will teach you the basics of the Barnes Method of studying art, at your own pace.
The Art of Display: Exploring the Barnes Ensembles
Uncover connections hidden in plain sight by studying Dr. Barnes’s enigmatic displays of art at your own pace.