Art history - Online

Art History courses online and in London

Looking to build your confidence in discussing and interpreting art? Or are you interested in taking your established knowledge of art in new directions? Then come and join City Lit’s Art History learning community!

Our exceptional range of courses, both introductory and in-depth, are designed for all learning levels. Our programme approaches art history from a variety of perspectives including social and cultural context, art theory and philosophy, curation and collecting, general art appreciation and so much more.

Choosing the right class for you

Our courses are open to all. Our students come from all backgrounds and learning experiences, from the absolute beginner to those refining their knowledge and understanding. We aim to give you the confidence to engage meaningfully with art, whatever level you are working from. Our students use our courses for personal fulfilment as well as professional and educational development. Many of our students go on to advanced degree and certificate programmes and many are able to use their knowledge in art making and gallery work.

Learn from expert tutors

At City Lit we are proud of the expertise of our tutors who are all professional art historians working actively in museums, galleries, research and writing, universities and auction houses. As experts in the field, they are able to provide you with the support and guidance you need to develop your art historical knowledge. As teachers they provide student-focused education, helping students achieve their art historical goals, both the personal and the professional.

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Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

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  1. Lunchtime lecture: The Other Story – introducing the BLK Art Group
    Course start date:  Wed 4 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    Get to know the ground-breaking art and ideas of the BLK Art Group, the early 1980s art and activist community whose work still shapes our conversations about art and culture in the UK today.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £7.00
  2. Colour in medieval art
    Course start date:  Fri 6 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Andreas Petzold
    Colour is an all pervasive and fundamental aspect of medieval art, but one that is largely neglected in art historical studies.This course looks at some of the main themes relating to colour such as symbolism, materials, theory and key developments.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
  3. Modern art in Ireland: a century of rebellion
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 21 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Henry Martin
    This course explores how artists on the island of Ireland have responded to, and created, cultural and social change between 1922 and 2022. Themes include religion, inequality, post-colonialism, modernity, secularism and the Troubles.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
  4. Art & war
    Course start date:  Tue 31 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    Art representing issues of war, conflict and revolution is usually either an expression of triumph or loss. But who decides? What is such art for and what can it hope to achieve? Attitudes to war have changed significantly and this course considers responses to conflict in painting, sculpture, photography, performance art and architecture spanning the globe and across different eras.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
  5. Lunchtime lecture: Judith Leyster & Frans Hals – a Haarlem rivalry
    Course start date:  Wed 1 Nov 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    Explore the art world of the 17th century Netherlands through the artistic ‘rivalry’ of Judith Leyster and Frans Hals in the city of Haarlem.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £7.00
  6. Art & money: from starving artists and forgers to merchants and collectors
    Course start date:  Thu 2 Nov 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Simone Chisena
    Discover the intricacies of the art world and an artist’s support system. Explore the systems artists work within to establish support for their art.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
  7. Still life in the history of art: opulence and fragility
    Course start date:  Wed 8 Nov 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    Still-life paintings usually represent ordinary things, often small and arranged on an indoor surface, without human presence. Long regarded in western art as the lowliest subject or “genre”, one that only required technical skill rather than imagination, still lifes are now considered some of the most charming and best loved paintings and can contain intriguing meanings that repay close study.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00
  8. Lunchtime lecture: sanctuary in the city - public art by refugees and immigrants in the city
    Course start date:  Fri 8 Dec 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    Come on a virtual tour of public art through the City of London created by Refugees and Immigrants. We will explore artworks such as the 17th century carvings on the Monument and a Victorian plaques relocated on to the post Modern Number One Poultry by economic immigrants to the country as well as looking at mainly works by 20th century artists from refugee backgrounds who were either commissioned to make art works for site specific places or their works have been bought or moved to their locations.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £15.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £10.00
  9. Lunchtime lecture: angels in art
    Course start date:  Wed 13 Dec 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Emma Rose Barber
    Angels have always made their mark – wings and all. And this course will explore painted and carved angels in western art in all their ways and fashions, from the archangels to Christmas angels to those just flying in to say hello.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £7.00
  10. Lunchtime lecture: Cezanne - from aspiring Impressionist to Post-Impressionist revolutionary
    Course start date:  Wed 10 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Julia Musgrave
    Explore the development of Cezanne revolutionary approach to painting, his techniques and motifs and some of the many artists whose work he influenced.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £7.00
  11. An introduction to the art of seventeenth-century Europe: 1590–1690
    Course start date:  Mon 15 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    Often referred to as “the Baroque”, the seventeenth century embraces some of the most dramatic, dynamic and acclaimed artworks ever produced, yet also some of the most tranquil and gentle. We will explore a wide range of paintings and sculptures from this period, discover why they look as they do, and investigate the powerful religious and historical contexts that influenced its artists.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  12. Modern art: movements 1900-1950
    Course start date:  Tue 16 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    Explore art and culture in the early 20th century, focussing on the major developments and movements in art including Cubism, Abstraction, Dada and Surrealism and their relationship to wider cultural contexts.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
    Rating:
    95% of 100
  13. Ways into art history
    Course start date:  Thu 18 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Emma Rose Barber
    An introduction to studying art history, inviting you to get close to works of art and learn how to improve your visual and analytical skills.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
  14. Lunchtime lecture: Philip Guston's restless world
    Course start date:  Wed 24 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    Discover the social political context reflected in the art of Philip Guston and how, even over 40 years after his death, his work is relevant in our world today.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £7.00
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