Ever wondered whether there’s a hidden meaning behind paintings? Discover why there are signs and symbols in paintings and how to find and interpret their meanings in medieval and Renaissance art.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This short course is an introduction to the iconographic language used in Medieval, Renaissance and Old Master paintings; the symbols and compositional devices used to convey particular messages within these paintings to the audience of the day. An apple here, a peacock there; these objects communicate messages which are now misunderstood by modern audiences, but what did they mean to their contemporary viewers?
What will we cover?
• How to identify the most commonly illustrated saints in Christian iconography • Key compositional formats in Christian art, such as adorations, annunciations, assumptions, and transfigurations • The secular iconography of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Be able to identify at least 3 saints by their attributes • Describe three Christian compositional formats • Be able to identify at least 3 classical gods or goddesses by their attributes.
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 bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The art of the Burgundian Netherlands c.1360-1480 Study Trip: glories of the Florentine Renaissance
Leslie Primo has spent more than 15 years giving lectures to the general public at the National Gallery for the Information and Education departments. During this time he graduated with a degree in History of Art and an MA in Renaissance Studies from Birkbeck, University College of London. In his studies he specialised in early Medieval and Renaissance studies, including, Italian Renaissance Drawing, Art and Architecture in Europe 1250-1400 Art and Architecture in Europe 1400-1500, Medici and Patronage, Narrative Painting in the Age of Giotto, and the work of Peter Paul Rubens focusing on his paintings of the Judgement of Paris, and Greek Myth in paintings. He is also an accredited Art Society lecturer.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/focus-on-iconography2488450Focus on: iconographyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Early_Modern_World-1080.jpg8989GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world/Courses/Online courses228511361177188917311228511771136Ever wondered whether there’s a hidden meaning behind paintings? Discover why there are signs and symbols in paintings and how to find and interpret their meanings in medieval and Renaissance art.003036340Focus on: iconography8989https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Early_Modern_World-1080.jpgInStockDaytimeWedOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-11-04T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNov 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB3138989Focus on: iconography715889Leslie Primofocus-on-iconography/vb313-2627Ever wondered whether there’s a hidden meaning behind paintings? Discover why there are signs and symbols in paintings and how to find and interpret their meanings in medieval and Renaissance art.0000-Available|2026-11-04 00:00:00This short course is an introduction to the iconographic language used in Medieval, Renaissance and Old Master paintings; the symbols and compositional devices used to convey particular messages within these paintings to the audience of the day. An apple here, a peacock there; these objects communicate messages which are now misunderstood by modern audiences, but what did they mean to their contemporary viewers?Ever wondered whether there’s a hidden meaning behind paintings? Discover why there are signs and symbols in paintings and how to find and interpret their meanings in medieval and Renaissance art.• How to identify the most commonly illustrated saints in Christian iconography<br>• Key compositional formats in Christian art, such as adorations, annunciations, assumptions, and transfigurations <br>• The secular iconography of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses.• Be able to identify at least 3 saints by their attributes<br>• Describe three Christian compositional formats<br>• Be able to identify at least 3 classical gods or goddesses by their attributes.<p>This course is suitable for all levels.<br><br>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 <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11273523970845-What-is-your-City-Lit-student-IT-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>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.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p>You might wish to bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class.<p>The art of the Burgundian Netherlands c.1360-1480<br>Study Trip: glories of the Florentine Renaissance</p>Art historyEarly modern worldvirtual718958VB313NONEWed04/11/26 - 18/11/2611:00 - 13:0011:0013:003 sessions (over 3 weeks)31 to 4 weeksWeekdayOnlineOnlineLeslie PrimoBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-11-04T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeNov 2026Culture, history & humanities8989Focus on: iconographyfocus-on-iconography/vb313-2627Ever wondered whether there’s a hidden meaning behind paintings? Discover why there are signs and symbols in paintings and how to find and interpret their meanings in medieval and Renaissance art.0000-Available|2026-11-04 00:00:00This short course is an introduction to the iconographic language used in Medieval, Renaissance and Old Master paintings; the symbols and compositional devices used to convey particular messages within these paintings to the audience of the day. An apple here, a peacock there; these objects communicate messages which are now misunderstood by modern audiences, but what did they mean to their contemporary viewers?Ever wondered whether there’s a hidden meaning behind paintings? Discover why there are signs and symbols in paintings and how to find and interpret their meanings in medieval and Renaissance art.• How to identify the most commonly illustrated saints in Christian iconography<br>• Key compositional formats in Christian art, such as adorations, annunciations, assumptions, and transfigurations <br>• The secular iconography of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses.• Be able to identify at least 3 saints by their attributes<br>• Describe three Christian compositional formats<br>• Be able to identify at least 3 classical gods or goddesses by their attributes.<p>This course is suitable for all levels.<br><br>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 <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11273523970845-What-is-your-City-Lit-student-IT-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>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.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p>You might wish to bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class.<p>The art of the Burgundian Netherlands c.1360-1480<br>Study Trip: glories of the Florentine Renaissance</p>Art historyEarly modern worldconfigurable
18891136Early modern worldhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/early-modern-world1/2/285/1177/1136/18891/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world
