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 Art of the Late Medieval Book: Illuminated Treasures at the Met
Explore some of the great Western medieval manuscripts in the museum’s collections. Instructor: C. Griffith Mann
The Restless Modernism of John Singer Sargent
Explore Sargent’s artistic evolution, from his Paris training to his “restless” portraits in London, and consider his place in modern art. Instructor: Susan Sidlauskas
Size Does Matter: A History of Miniatures in Art
What makes miniatures so fascinating? And what compels artists to work on such a tiny scale? This course shines a spotlight on the art of miniatures. Instructor: Julie Steiner
Monet at Giverny
Explore Monet’s final decades at his home and gardens in Giverny, where he created his iconic Water Lilies series. Instructor: Martha Lucy
Close-Looking Immersion: Cézanne’s Ginger Jar
Discover hidden details in this hour devoted to observing and discussing the Cézanne still life. Instructor: William Perthes
Online Talk: Annual Violette de Mazia Lecture with Anjan Chatterjee
Students and alumni are invited to join us virtually for the annual Barnes–de Mazia lecture.
Abstraction in Modern Art
Studying artists as diverse as Hilma af Klint, Paul Klee, and Joan Miró, this course explores abstraction between the 1900s and 1950s. Instructor: Francesca Ferrari
Caillebotte: The Modern Eye
Explore Gustave Caillebotte’s modern vision and his vital role in advancing impressionism through innovative paintings and patronage. Instructor: Christa DiMarco
Close-Looking Immersion: Renoir’s Young Mother
Take a deep dive into what is perhaps Renoir’s modern, secular take on the Madonna and Child subject. Instructor: Kaelin Jewell
Decades of Change: American Art and Culture 1950–70
See how postwar American art reflected innovation, protest, and social change. Instructor: Matthew Palczynski
The Hudson River School in Context
Explore 19th-century landscape painting and its politics through deep-zoom analysis. Instructor: William L. Coleman
Sicily: Crossroads of Art and Culture
Explore the island’s rich artistic history from antiquity to the early modern era. Instructor: Kaelin Jewell
Close-Looking Immersion: Pissarro’s Garden in Full Sunlight
Examine Pissarro’s radiant brushwork using guided close looking and deep-zoom technology. Instructor: William Perthes
Gift a Barnes Class
Give the gift of lifelong learning with art history classes taught by Barnes experts.