The Grand Tour: antiquity, art and cultural encounters

About this course

The course traces the Grand Tour’s routes through European centres including Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples, examining ancient monuments, canonical artworks and the cultural settings encountered by travellers. It considers diaries and other first-hand accounts alongside guidebooks, souvenirs, antiquities and views produced for the expanding market. Teaching combines illustrated lectures with group discussion and an offsite gallery-based session. Topics include the Grand Tour’s influence on British collections, taste, Neoclassical architecture and landscape art during the long eighteenth century.

What you'll learn

• Discuss the role of canonical artworks in the education of Grand Tour travellers
• Explain how the Grand Tour contributed to the formation of collections in Britain
• Trace its influence on British taste and Neoclassical architecture
• Assess its impact on British landscape art

Is this course right for you?

The course is suitable for learners at all levels who can follow simple written and spoken instructions and take part in lectures and group discussion. Assigned reading supports some sessions. One offsite session involves walking between sites and standing while viewing artworks.

• Learners are expected to engage with assigned texts.
• The teaching includes group discussion as well as lectures.
• Offsite access conditions may involve variable noise, visitor activity and seating.

Before you go

• Required readings and the course outline are printed; other documents are shared through Google Classroom.
• A notebook may be useful for taking notes, and books from any reading list may be purchased for further study.
• The offsite session involves walking between sites and standing for periods; seating cannot be guaranteed, although a personal portable stool may be brought.
• Wheelchair users should confirm access details in advance, as accessibility varies between buildings. Reasonable accommodations can be discussed.