Women of the art world: Renaissance and Baroque eras

About this course

The course examines women’s roles in early modern Italian art and society through artworks that depict, were commissioned by or were created by women. It considers the influence of family, the Church and the labour economy, alongside gendered representations of the body and social expectations shown in paintings. Teaching combines lectures, slide presentations, activities and group discussion. Participants will analyse formal features across different media and consider how female patrons, collectors and artists shaped cultural life within a male-dominated art world.

What you'll learn

• Explain how early modern Italy’s social and cultural context shaped women’s roles in art and society.
• Analyse selected artworks across different media, considering their formal features and representations of women.
• Evaluate the contributions of female patrons, collectors and artists within the early modern art world.

Is this course right for you?

The course is suitable for learners at all levels. Participants will be invited to contribute to group discussions and should be able to follow written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts and health and safety information.

• Includes participation in group discussion.
• Uses lectures, visual presentations and class activities.
• Class materials are accessed through a digital classroom.

Before you go

• Handouts will be provided through Google Classroom.
• Learners should be familiar with, or willing to learn, the digital systems used to access class materials.