Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel – wondrous artists and their legacy
Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel the elder - two northern Renaissance artists, and their influence on 20th-century artists known as the Surrealists. Artists divided in time by 500 years, but who share many similarities with their strange and curious subjects and objects conjured up to ignite amazement, wonder, discussion and even outrage.
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Bosch and Breughel and the 20th-century Surrealists, including Max Ernst, Man Ray, René Magritte, Leonora Carrington and Salvador Dali, share a similar imaginative and visual spectrum. While the former painted religious and moralising subjects, the latter conjured fantastical forms and shapes that seem to emerge out of nowhere. But they all possess an interest in dream-like visions, fantasy, the absurd, mythical animals, hybrid creatures and the strange and odd.
Over the course of three weeks, we shall explore their art and consider to what extent the artists were reacting to the world around them, or whether their art was simply the product of engaged and vivid imaginations. We shall also consider their artistic influences, and try and work out what people thought of their art at the time they were painting. Would they have said they were mad, rude and reckless? Or would they have admired their innovative and experimental artistic practices?
Bosch and Breughel worked mainly in Belgium and Holland, while the Surrealists were truly international artists, working in Mexico, Paris, Cornwall, New York and Brussels. The course will look at their work separately, and make comparisons which will reveal their shared body of subject matter and methods to present dream realities and the release of refreshing imagery from the accepted norm.
At the heart of their art was a desire to address innovation. All the painters concerned created works that might be completely inexplicable. But that does not matter, for we are looking at imagery that was dictated by their spiritual and personal visions and dreams which had no boundaries.
Join us to embrace the weird and wondrous.
What will we cover?
• The art of Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists and their shared connections.
• Examples of the types, subjects and categories of the art by the artists under consideration looking at what artistic influences they might have shared.
• The culture and geographical locations in which the artists worked and to what extent these extraneous forces influenced their art.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• To be able to analyse one work by Bosch, one work by Breughel and one work by the Surrealists
• To be able to make a comparison between a work either by Bosch or Breughel with a work by one of the Surrealists
• Discuss whether the assumed links between these artists have any documentary or historical basis
• List key features of the art of Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists using general descriptive language and more formal art historical language.
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.
Emma Rose Barber is an art historian who has been teaching adults for over 25 years. She specialises in the visual culture of the Middle Ages and the Italian and Northern Renaissance. She has also taught classes on British art and has designed many different courses such as Last Suppers in Florence and Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists. She has also given lectures on Women and Art. She used to run the history of art department at the British Institute in Florence and works for many institutions such as the Open University, Morley College and the department of continuing education at the University of Oxford. Her book – 111 Churches that you Shouldn’t Miss in London - is coming out in the autumn of 2020. She has spent the last five years with a Mini A-Z looking for churches to write about, many of which can be found on her blog – https://theitinerantchurchgoer.wordpress.com/. She is also writing a Cultural History of Wayfaring and writes articles for Selvedge Magazine.
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.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/hieronymus-bosch-and-pieter-breughel-wondrous-artists-and-their-legacy3046348Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel – wondrous artists and their legacyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/h/i/hieronymus-bosch-and-pieter-breughel-vb319-1200.jpg8989GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Online courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world228511361177173118891228511771136<p>Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel the elder - two northern Renaissance artists, and their influence on 20th-century artists known as the Surrealists. Artists divided in time by 500 years, but who share many similarities with their strange and curious subjects and objects conjured up to ignite amazement, wonder, discussion and even outrage.</p>003046312Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel – wondrous artists and their legacy8989https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/h/i/hieronymus-bosch-and-pieter-breughel-vb319-1200_1.jpgInStockDaytimeTueOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-10-06T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allOct 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB3198989Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel – wondrous artists and their legacy898989Emma Rose Barberhieronymus-bosch-and-pieter-breughel-wondrous-artists-and-their-legacy/vb319-2627<p>Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel the elder - two northern Renaissance artists, and their influence on 20th-century artists known as the Surrealists. Artists divided in time by 500 years, but who share many similarities with their strange and curious subjects and objects conjured up to ignite amazement, wonder, discussion and even outrage.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-06 00:00:00<p>Bosch and Breughel and the 20th-century Surrealists, including Max Ernst, Man Ray, René Magritte, Leonora Carrington and Salvador Dali, share a similar imaginative and visual spectrum. While the former painted religious and moralising subjects, the latter conjured fantastical forms and shapes that seem to emerge out of nowhere. But they all possess an interest in dream-like visions, fantasy, the absurd, mythical animals, hybrid creatures and the strange and odd.</p><p>Over the course of three weeks, we shall explore their art and consider to what extent the artists were reacting to the world around them, or whether their art was simply the product of engaged and vivid imaginations. We shall also consider their artistic influences, and try and work out what people thought of their art at the time they were painting. Would they have said they were mad, rude and reckless? Or would they have admired their innovative and experimental artistic practices?</p><p>Bosch and Breughel worked mainly in Belgium and Holland, while the Surrealists were truly international artists, working in Mexico, Paris, Cornwall, New York and Brussels. The course will look at their work separately, and make comparisons which will reveal their shared body of subject matter and methods to present dream realities and the release of refreshing imagery from the accepted norm.</p><p>At the heart of their art was a desire to address innovation. All the painters concerned created works that might be completely inexplicable. But that does not matter, for we are looking at imagery that was dictated by their spiritual and personal visions and dreams which had no boundaries.</p><p>Join us to embrace the weird and wondrous.</p><p>Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel the elder - two northern Renaissance artists, and their influence on 20th-century artists known as the Surrealists. Artists divided in time by 500 years, but who share many similarities with their strange and curious subjects and objects conjured up to ignite amazement, wonder, discussion and even outrage.</p><p>• The art of Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists and their shared connections.</p><p>• Examples of the types, subjects and categories of the art by the artists under consideration looking at what artistic influences they might have shared.</p><p>• The culture and geographical locations in which the artists worked and to what extent these extraneous forces influenced their art.</p><p>• To be able to analyse one work by Bosch, one work by Breughel and one work by the Surrealists</p><p>• To be able to make a comparison between a work either by Bosch or Breughel with a work by one of the Surrealists</p><p>• Discuss whether the assumed links between these artists have any documentary or historical basis</p><p>• List key features of the art of Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists using general descriptive language and more formal art historical language.</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels.</p><p>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>Please note: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes.</p><p>Baroque art in London museums</p>Art historyEarly modern worldvirtual898989VB319NONETue06/10/26 - 20/10/2611:00 - 13:0011:0013:003 sessions (over 3 weeks)31 to 4 weeksDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnlineEmma Rose BarberBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-10-06T00:00:00+00:00Oct 2026Culture, history & humanities8989Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel – wondrous artists and their legacyhieronymus-bosch-and-pieter-breughel-wondrous-artists-and-their-legacy/vb319-2627<p>Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel the elder - two northern Renaissance artists, and their influence on 20th-century artists known as the Surrealists. Artists divided in time by 500 years, but who share many similarities with their strange and curious subjects and objects conjured up to ignite amazement, wonder, discussion and even outrage.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-06 00:00:00<p>Bosch and Breughel and the 20th-century Surrealists, including Max Ernst, Man Ray, René Magritte, Leonora Carrington and Salvador Dali, share a similar imaginative and visual spectrum. While the former painted religious and moralising subjects, the latter conjured fantastical forms and shapes that seem to emerge out of nowhere. But they all possess an interest in dream-like visions, fantasy, the absurd, mythical animals, hybrid creatures and the strange and odd.</p><p>Over the course of three weeks, we shall explore their art and consider to what extent the artists were reacting to the world around them, or whether their art was simply the product of engaged and vivid imaginations. We shall also consider their artistic influences, and try and work out what people thought of their art at the time they were painting. Would they have said they were mad, rude and reckless? Or would they have admired their innovative and experimental artistic practices?</p><p>Bosch and Breughel worked mainly in Belgium and Holland, while the Surrealists were truly international artists, working in Mexico, Paris, Cornwall, New York and Brussels. The course will look at their work separately, and make comparisons which will reveal their shared body of subject matter and methods to present dream realities and the release of refreshing imagery from the accepted norm.</p><p>At the heart of their art was a desire to address innovation. All the painters concerned created works that might be completely inexplicable. But that does not matter, for we are looking at imagery that was dictated by their spiritual and personal visions and dreams which had no boundaries.</p><p>Join us to embrace the weird and wondrous.</p><p>Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Breughel the elder - two northern Renaissance artists, and their influence on 20th-century artists known as the Surrealists. Artists divided in time by 500 years, but who share many similarities with their strange and curious subjects and objects conjured up to ignite amazement, wonder, discussion and even outrage.</p><p>• The art of Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists and their shared connections.</p><p>• Examples of the types, subjects and categories of the art by the artists under consideration looking at what artistic influences they might have shared.</p><p>• The culture and geographical locations in which the artists worked and to what extent these extraneous forces influenced their art.</p><p>• To be able to analyse one work by Bosch, one work by Breughel and one work by the Surrealists</p><p>• To be able to make a comparison between a work either by Bosch or Breughel with a work by one of the Surrealists</p><p>• Discuss whether the assumed links between these artists have any documentary or historical basis</p><p>• List key features of the art of Bosch, Breughel and the Surrealists using general descriptive language and more formal art historical language.</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels.</p><p>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>Please note: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes.</p><p>Baroque art in London museums</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
