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.

The Art of Looking: An Introduction to the Barnes Method
New Offering: This interactive online course will teach you the basics of the Barnes Method of studying art, at your own pace.

Errand into the Maze: The Masterpiece and the Ensemble
Consider the connections between works within Barnes ensembles while seeking a deeper understanding of the collection as a whole. Instructor: Rika Burnham

Looking and Listening: The Art of Atmospheric Sound
This new series explores the relationship between visual art and sound. Instructor: Roksana Filipowska

The Art and Life of Toulouse-Lautrec
Explore the gritty underworld of 19th-century Paris through the work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Instructor: Martha Lucy

At Bloom in the Barnes: The Painted Garden
This workshop includes time in the Barnes galleries and an art-making session focused on gardens and flowers. Instructor: Christine Stoughton

Andrew Wyeth in Context: Art, Place, and Practice
Consider the creative legacy of the American artist, with special insights from his granddaughter. Instructors: William L. Coleman, Victoria Browning Wyeth

African Art in the Barnes: Context and Meanings
Learn the traditional meanings and uses of the African sculpture collected by Dr. Barnes while considering the impact of colonialism and imperialism. Instructor: Dwaune Latimer

Close-Looking Immersion: Picasso’s Violin, Sheet Music, and Bottle
Our 90-minute immersions provide opportunities to study and discuss individual works. Instructor: Naina Saligram

Like a Voyage at Sea: Exploring the Work of Cecily Brown
This one-day workshop on the work of Cecily Brown includes a hands-on art-making session. Instructor: Stuart Shils

Contemporary Art and the Canon: Emulation, Pastiche, Parody
Explore the complex relationship between modern artists and the art of the past. Instructor: Paul Galvez

Looking and Listening: Musical Visions
This new series explores the relationship between visual art and sound. Instructor: Therese Dolan

About Faces: A History of the Art of Portraiture
Explore the incredible diversity of portraiture in the collection—from Hals to Van Gogh, Matisse, and Renoir. Instructor: Brian Seymour

Close-Looking Immersion: Memling’s Portrait of a Man
Our 90-minute immersions provide opportunities to study and discuss individual works. Instructor: William Perthes

Preparing for From Paris to Provence
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the organization and launch of an exhibition at the Barnes. Instructor: Cindy Kang

The Garden in Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
Learn how 19th-century French garden design—especially the approach to texture and color theory—influenced the impressionists. 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

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

Workshop: Art, Well-Being, and Medicine
Learn how engaging with works of art can strengthen your skills as a healthcare provider. 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

Art, Well-Being, and Medicine
New program! Our group workshops help medical students and healthcare professionals develop a more empathetic, humanistic approach to patient care.

The Barnes–de Mazia Certificate Program
This special track offers an immersion in the Barnes Method and an introduction to other interpretive approaches.

Gift a Barnes Class
Give the gift of lifelong learning with art history classes taught by Barnes experts.

Saint Joseph’s University Museum Education Graduate Program
A collaboration between the Barnes and SJU, this new online program prepares museum educators to work in public and private institutions, including art, history, and science museums.
Horticulture Certificate Program
Our two-year certificate program covers horticultural science, methods, and design.