Art of the Spanish Golden Age

What is the course about?

Discover one of the most remarkable periods in European art through this four-week exploration of the Spanish Golden Age. Flourishing during the 16th and 17th centuries, this era produced masterpieces of extraordinary realism, spirituality, and psychological depth, reflecting the cultural, political, and religious forces that shaped Spain at the height of its global influence.

Each week, we will examine the lives, techniques, and innovations of some of the period's greatest artists, including El Greco, Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Zurbarán, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, and José de Ribera. Through close analysis of iconic paintings, we will explore themes such as royal patronage, religious devotion, everyday life, portraiture, still life, and the dramatic use of light and shadow.

The course also places these works within their wider historical context, considering the impact of the Counter-Reformation, the Spanish court, and the country's literary and intellectual flourishing. Along the way, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how Spanish artists developed a distinctive visual language.

What will we cover?

• This course focuses on great artists of the Spanish Golden Age and their works of art, you will learn about specific artists, some very well-known, and others less so, such as Juan Sanchez Cotán.

• We will look into the circumstances in which these artists worked, such as royal patronage, the Counter-Reformation faith, the importance of the trade with the Americas

• We will study a variety of subjects, from religious paintings, to portraiture, genre scenes, and the still-life.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Name 10 Spanish artists of the Golden Age and recognise one of their works
• Describe, and discuss, the particular style of the Spanish painting during the Golden Age
• Explain how historical, religious, and political developments influenced artistic production in 16th- and 17th-century Spain

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is suitable for all levels.

You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom and uses a Google Classroom to share materials. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, please click here.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught by lecture with slide images and you will be invited to participate in group discussion. There will be handouts provided by your tutor; these handouts will be available digitally via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.

Please note: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided. A reading list will be shared after the course begins, not before.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

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