Friday lates: Homer in art

Course Dates: 07/03/25
Time: 18:00 - 20:00
Location: Online
Tutors: 
Julia Musgrave
When Homer’s ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’ were rediscovered in the renaissance they went on to inspire artists from the mid-fifteenth century to the present day. We explore how artists through the centuries have used the stories as a literary source and consider how their approach to them has changed over time.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
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Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00

Friday lates: Homer in art
  • Course Code: VB678
  • Dates: 07/03/25 - 07/03/25
  • Time: 18:00 - 20:00
  • Taught: Fri, Evening
  • Duration: 1 session
  • Location: Online
  • Tutor: Julia Musgrave

Course Code: VB678

Fri, eve, 07 Mar - 07 Mar '25

Duration: 1 session

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.

What is the course about?

Homer's 'Iliad' and 'Odyssey' are two of the oldest works of literature still widely read today. Originally part of an oral tradition in ancient Greece, they are thought to have been first transcribed in the late 8th or early 7th century BCE. Tales from Homer are referenced in ancient Greek and Roman artworks, but it is in the renaissance, when Homer’s work is re-discovered, that their use as a literary source in European paintings begins.

The stories, with their powerful characters and heroic action sequences inspired not just artists, but also playwrights and poets. Some stories were more popular than others; the choice of motifs fluctuated over time and so did the way the characters were represented. In this short introduction we look at how Homer’s work was re-discovered, and how it inspired artists from ancient Greece to the present day. We will mostly focus on the story of the Trojan War as told in the 'Iliad'.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

· The rediscovery of Homer’s work and the development of its influence on European art
· The story of the Trojan War as told in Homer’s’ Iliad’
· Selected works of art based on Homer’s Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’.

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

· Describe at least one popular motif from Homer and discuss how approaches to it have changed over time
· Give an example of how artworks based on Homer might reflect the interests of the period in which they were create.

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, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to operate basic Zoom elements like microphone, camera and chat.

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

You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations and group discussion. As this is a one-off lecture, you will not need to log onto Google Classroom and there is no handout.

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

You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes.

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

This course is part of our Friday Lates series, search ‘Friday Lates’ for more courses like this one.

Julia Musgrave Tutor Website

Julia Musgrave got her first degree in Chemical Engineering and went on become a Chartered Information Systems Engineer and IT project manager. In 2008 she decided that life was too short for just one career and decided to become an art historian. She has a Graduate Diploma in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art and an MLitt in ‘Art, Style and Design: Renaissance to Modernism, c.1450 – c.1930’ from the University of Glasgow. She gained her Ph.D. at the University of York for her research into the involvement of Roger Fry and the Bloomsbury Group and the social networks of the British art world in the development of the Contemporary Art Society from 1910 to 1939. She is Co-Director of the London Art Salon and an accredited Arts 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.