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.
For the latest news, courses, events and competitions, stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
195 courses available
- Art History Festival: In Conversation with Charmaine Watkiss
Join us for a special ‘In Conversation’ event with acclaimed artist and former City Lit student Charmaine Watkiss, who’ll be interviewed by cultural historian Michael Ohajuru in celebration of this year’s Art History Festival. This lecture is part of the 2026 Art History Festival organised by the Association for Art History.
Keeley Street
Fri 9 Oct 2026Full fee £0.00 - Friday lates: Art in England transformed - the court of Charles I
The art collection of King Charles I (1600-1649) was magnificent and hugely influential. Explore the artists, craftsmen, agents and connoisseurs who shaped one of the most important European art collections and learn about how objects and artists from across Europe made their way to London.
Online
Fri 9 Oct 2026Sophie RhodesFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £19.00 - War artists: the British art of World War I
This course will examine visual culture borne of World War One - experiences and responses, propaganda and commemoration in paintings, prints and sculptures.
Keeley Street
Sat 10 Oct 2026Rachel SandersFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - The mirror of nature: art and culture in 17th century Europe
The 17th century produced some of the greatest artists of all time: Rubens, Rembrandt, Velázquezand Bernini to name but a few. Explore the work of these key artists and understand the history, styles and ideas that shaped the century.
Online
Mon 12 Oct 2026Leslie PrimoFull fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £123.00 - Friday lates: Lubaina Himid – longing and belonging
This Friday Late art history course spotlights the work of artist Lubaina Himid, one of Britain's most thought provoking artists.
Online
Fri 23 Oct 2026Chantal CondronFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £19.00 - Ways into art history
Do you enjoy looking at art but want to understand it more deeply? This introduction to art history course will help you build confidence in interpreting art by exploring topics such as beauty, the role of the artist, gender, the art market, and global art history-giving you fresh insight into what you see in galleries and museums.
Online
Fri 23 Oct 2026Sophie RhodesFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Britain and the Bauhaus
Discover how British design ideas influenced German design schools in the late nineteenth century and how that influence was reversed in the 1930s when artists, designers, writers and architects embraced Bauhaus and Modernist design as a way to revitalise postwar Britain, and Bauhaus teachers were refugees in London. But did they succeed in making Britain modern?
Online
Fri 23 Oct 2026Julia MusgraveFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Landscape architecture in the contemporary world (1990-now)
Our cities and green spaces are being reimagined to tackle climate change and bring communities together. This course explores how international landscape architects and artists are transforming urban areas, creating parks, restoring wetlands and building greener neighbourhoods that work for both people and nature. From designing urban parks that absorb rainwater and prevent flooding, to restoring wetlands that shelter wildlife and cool city streets, smart design can make a real difference in building resilient futures.
Keeley Street
Sat 24 Oct 2026Xinrui ZhangFull fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - Introduction to contemporary art: ideas and originsEver wondered what's going on in the mind of contemporary artists? This course explores the ideas and historical background behind some of today’s most intriguing works, from Conceptualism and Video to Body Art and Installation.
Online
Mon 26 Oct 2026Christopher CollierFull fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £103.00 - Origins of the Italian Renaissance: the PrimitiviDiscover the history, politics and intellectualism that fuelled the Italian Renaissance. Explore the art of Giotto and his peers from a new perspective.
Online
Thu 29 Oct 2026Simone ChisenaFull fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £136.00 - Study day: Picasso
Study the stages of Picasso’s experimentation, including the Blue Period and Cubism, and key works, such as Les Demoiselles d’Avignon and Guernica, within a variety of contexts - biographic, historic, political and artistic.
Keeley Street
Sat 31 Oct 2026Rachel SandersFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Study day: portrait miniatures - 500 years of intimate art
In this study-day, explore the rich history of portrait miniatures, from the jewel-like works of Hilliard to 18th and 19th century innovations. This study day examines key artists, techniques, and the miniature’s role in love, memory, and identity. It will also include an in-depth look at the role women artists had in shaping this genre.
Keeley Street
Sun 1 Nov 2026Sophie RhodesFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Covent Garden, a magnet for artists and art practice
Discover Covent Garden when it was the centre for artists to live, socialise and practice their profession. From the development of the Piazza in the 1630s to the1730s when William Hogarth established St Martin’s Lane Academy. Many artists involved in this went on to be the founding members of the Royal Academy, which from the 1770s was housed at Somerset House.
Off Site
Mon 2 Nov 2026Marilyn GreeneFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Ancient China/modern fantasies
Explore the material culture of imperial China and its influence on modern and contemporary visual cultures.
Keeley Street
Tue 3 Nov 2026Meitao QuFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Focus on: iconographyEver 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.
Online
Wed 4 Nov 2026Leslie PrimoFull fee £89.00 Senior fee £71.00 Concession £58.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.












