This course will examine the lasting impact of the European Renaissance on art and culture, as well as the global exchanges that helped shape this era. The Renaissance was not simply a shift from medieval to modern thinking, but it was also influenced by exploration and the innovations of many other cultures. European artists incorporated ideas, technology, and materials from across the world into their own work—including inspiration from Ancient Greece and Rome, China, Byzantium, and the Islamic world –demonstrating the reciprocal influences of world cultures in this period. In turn, the Renaissance also influenced future art movements, including the world of fashion. Session topics will include: the art historical inspirations that fuel contemporary Italian fashions in the special exhibition Renaissance to Runway: The Enduring Italian Houses; how the Renaissance artist Filippino Lippi found new inspiration in the fragments of ancient paintings, sculpture, and architecture in the exhibition Filippino Lippi and Rome, as well as other connections to the Renaissance across the museum’s exhibitions and permanent collection.
This course involves walking through museum galleries. Assisted listening devices are available.