Take a Class
Study art history at the Barnes, a leader in art education since 1925. Come learn in our galleries, or take classes online using our immersive, state-of-the-art platform that brings you closer to the work than ever before.
Classes are streamed live via our VXP (visual experience platform).
The Garden in Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
Learn about the rise of public and private gardens in 19th-century Paris and how these new spaces are depicted in impressionist paintings. Instructors: Andrew Bunting, Martha Lucy
Rendez-vous au Café: Café Culture in 19th-Century Art
Cafés hold a special place in the history of modern art. Learn how and why they inspired some of the most famous paintings of the time. Instructor: Caterina Y. Pierre
Online Talk: Annual Violette de Mazia Lecture with Larry Silver
Art historian Larry Silver discusses how and why artists throughout history compose their images from left to right.
The Art of Color: Exploring Palettes from the Renaissance to the Fauves
Journey through the vibrant world of artists’ palettes and learn how evolving materials and color theories shaped European painting over the past 400 years. Instructor: Al Gury
Bars, Brawls, and Backstreets: Art of the Ashcan School
Examine this uniquely American period of modern art that focused on the shifting urban landscape of the early 20th century. Instructor: William Perthes
Close-Looking Immersion: Matisse’s Blue Still Life
Our 90-minute immersions provide opportunities to study and discuss individual works. Instructor: Kaelin Jewell
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Aesthetics of Everyday Life
This course uses the decorative arts collection at the Barnes as a jumping-off point to explore the artistic qualities of common objects. Instructors: Katherine Feldkamp, William Perthes
Heaven on Earth: The Art of the Byzantine Empire
Dive into the visual culture of the Byzantine Empire, which was influenced by nearly a millennium of religious, social, and political upheaval. Instructor: Kaelin Jewell
Art and the First “Homosexuals”
This course surveys artistic representations of homosexual identity, from the early 1900s through the first decades of the 20th century. Instructor: Jonathan D. Katz
Close-Looking Immersion: Van Goyen’s The Square Watch-Tower
Our 90-minute immersions provide opportunities to study and discuss individual works. Instructor: William Perthes
Gift a Barnes Class
Give the gift of lifelong learning with art history classes taught by Barnes experts.