Wednesdays, January 7 – January 28, 2 – 4pm
Caravaggio. Judith Beheading Holofernes (detail), 1599. Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
$220; members $198
(4 classes)
About the Class
Explore the life and work of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, the rebellious artist who laid the groundwork for the Baroque style of painting in Rome around 1600. In an era that prized the ideal beauty of classicism, Caravaggio introduced a shockingly earthy new naturalism, enhanced by dramatic compositions and powerful use of light and shadow. The results include starkly honest portraits, genre scenes of gamblers and cutthroats, and religious pictures depicting saints as everyday people. Throughout this course, we will consider the artist’s complex character, including his sexuality and his criminal past, seeking keys to the psychological intensity that he brought to his art.
The class is online-only. More about online classes.
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Barnes classes will:
- Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
- Improve your ability to communicate about art.
- Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.
Caravaggio. Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1599. Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
Instructor
James Harper
Harper teaches 17th-century art and directs the Museum Studies Program at Penn State University. He holds a PhD in the history of art from the University of Pennsylvania and is recognized internationally as an expert on the intersection of art and politics at the papal court.
What Our Students Say
“The instructor is a gifted individual who is able to [engage] with all different kinds of learners and motivate us to want to learn more, see more, and experience more. I would highly recommend any course by this instructor.” —Collection Concentration: Medieval Modern with Kaelin Jewell
“Martha Lucy knows how to balance her lecture with fact, excellent painting selections, and inclusion of the students.” —The Art and Life of Toulouse-Lautrec with Martha Lucy
“The best class to understand the elements of art. The instructor’s expertise and warmth, along with the excellent discussions with my classmates, made it a truly wonderful experience.” —The Elements of Art with William Perthes
“This class offered rich insight into Picasso and his contemporaries—the gallery scene, turn-of-the-century politics, Catalan culture, along with Picasso’s approach to composition and contemporary European culture. It was so informative.” —Picasso in Focus: New Discoveries at the Barnes with Christine Romano and Naina Saligram
“Caterina loves the material she presents and infuses all her classes—of which I have taken many—with that infectious enthusiasm.” —Rendez-vous au Café: Café Culture in 19th-Century Art with Caterina Pierre
Go Further
Close-Looking Immersion: Cézanne’s Portrait of a Woman
Spend an hour with Cézanne’s haunting Portrait of a Woman. Instructor: William Perthes
Surrealism, Then and Now
Revisit the movement’s origin and global expansion and consider its legacy today. Instructor: Naina Saligram
Famous Heists: Crimes in the History of Art
An in-depth look at art crimes, including museum heists, stolen artifacts, and forgeries that fooled the world. Instructor: Caterina Y. Pierre