Explore the richness of Italian Renaissance art (1400-1600) in this six-session course, with visits to London’s collections, including the National Gallery, the V&A, the Wallace Collection, and the Courtauld Gallery. Alongside masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, participants will encounter lesser-known works that illuminate everyday life, devotional practices, and the social and political world of
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This course offers an in-depth study of Italian Renaissance art in London’s galleries, providing participants with the opportunity to engage directly with the works. Alongside celebrated masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, the course examines a wide range of lesser-known objects, from decorative arts and devotional items to works commissioned for private homes and public spaces. Special attention is given to understanding how artworks, now kept behind protective glass, were originally intended to be seen, experienced, and used.
Classes are organised thematically, covering topics such as portraiture, religious and secular iconography, artistic innovation, and the rediscovery of classical antiquity. Through gallery-based discussion and close analysis of objects, participants will develop skills in interpreting iconography, analysing technique, and situating artworks within their social, religious, and historical contexts.
Meeting points for the sessions will be emailed to you at least one week before the first session.
What will we cover?
· The development of Italian Renaissance art in Florence, Rome, and Venice, studied through works in London museums.
· The use of spatial illusion and perspective, and the rediscovery and creative adaptation of classical antiquity.
· The commissioning, display, and reception of artworks, examining how paintings, sculpture, and decorative objects were experienced in sacred, civic, and domestic settings.
· The iconography of religious, mythological, and allegorical subjects, and how images communicated ideas, social values, and cultural identity.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
· Describe key stylistic and thematic features of Italian Renaissance painting, sculpture, and decorative art, drawing on direct study of works in London’s major museums.
· Discuss the social, religious, and historical contexts in which Renaissance art developed across Italy, using examples from both celebrated masterpieces and lesser-known objects.
· Identify the work of major Renaissance artists and explain their significance within the broader visual culture of the period.
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. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.
This course uses a Google Classroom to share documents. Please be advised the tutor is unable to bring printed out materials to the gallery nor are they able to email documents due to copyright and data protection restrictions.For more on our use of Google Classroom, please click here.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught in the gallery with lecture and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.
Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided. Entrance to the National Gallery, the V&A and the Wallace Collection is free. However, the Courtauld Gallery requires the payment of a fee. This fee is not included in the course fees. You will be prompted to book your Courtauld ticket within a week of the class visit to the gallery. Fees for galleries change, so please check the Courtauld Gallery for the latest entrance fees.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Michelangelo, the High Renaissance to Mannerism
Introduction to the Italian Renaissance
Women of the art world: Italian Renaissance and the Baroque
Elisa Stafferini is an art historian specialising in Renaissance and early modern Italian art. She recently completed her PhD at the Warburg Institute with a thesis entitled Women in Arms: Female Warriors in Italian Art, 1500–1700. She holds a BA and an MA summa cum laude from La Sapienza Università di Roma. Elisa has held research appointments at the University of Oxford, at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz (KHI), and at the Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS) in Pisa. Her research interests encompass early modern visual culture, iconography and iconology, gender and politics in art, and the relationship between word and image. She has delivered lectures on Renaissance art and iconography in both Italy and the UK and currently teaches the module “Art in London before 1600” at University College London.
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/italian-renaissance-art-in-london-museums2944998Italian Renaissance art in London museumshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/t/italian-renaissance-art-in-london-museums-vb236-1080.jpg229229GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Galleries, collecting & curating/Courses/vm/Courses to do around London2285113611771892167812285117711361653<p>Explore the richness of Italian Renaissance art (1400-1600) in this six-session course, with visits to London’s collections, including the National Gallery, the V&A, the Wallace Collection, and the Courtauld Gallery. Alongside masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, participants will encounter lesser-known works that illuminate everyday life, devotional practices, and the social and political world of the period. Direct engagement with these objects encourages reflection on their creation, meaning, and original context.</p>003036478Italian Renaissance art in London museums229229https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/t/italian-renaissance-art-in-london-museums-vb236-1080_2.jpgInStockDaytimeThuOff SiteAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-10-08T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allOct 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB236229229Italian Renaissance art in London museums183149229Elisa Stafferiniitalian-renaissance-art-in-london-museums/vb236-2627<p>Explore the richness of Italian Renaissance art (1400-1600) in this six-session course, with visits to London’s collections, including the National Gallery, the V&A, the Wallace Collection, and the Courtauld Gallery. Alongside masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, participants will encounter lesser-known works that illuminate everyday life, devotional practices, and the social and political world of the period. Direct engagement with these objects encourages reflection on their creation, meaning, and original context.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-08 00:00:00<p>This course offers an in-depth study of Italian Renaissance art in London’s galleries, providing participants with the opportunity to engage directly with the works. Alongside celebrated masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, the course examines a wide range of lesser-known objects, from decorative arts and devotional items to works commissioned for private homes and public spaces. Special attention is given to understanding how artworks, now kept behind protective glass, were originally intended to be seen, experienced, and used.</p><p>Classes are organised thematically, covering topics such as portraiture, religious and secular iconography, artistic innovation, and the rediscovery of classical antiquity. Through gallery-based discussion and close analysis of objects, participants will develop skills in interpreting iconography, analysing technique, and situating artworks within their social, religious, and historical contexts.</p><p>Meeting points for the sessions will be emailed to you at least one week before the first session.</p><p>Explore the richness of Italian Renaissance art (1400-1600) in this six-session course, with visits to London’s collections, including the National Gallery, the V&A, the Wallace Collection, and the Courtauld Gallery. Alongside masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, participants will encounter lesser-known works that illuminate everyday life, devotional practices, and the social and political world of the period. Direct engagement with these objects encourages reflection on their creation, meaning, and original context.</p><p>· The development of Italian Renaissance art in Florence, Rome, and Venice, studied through works in London museums.</p><p>· The use of spatial illusion and perspective, and the rediscovery and creative adaptation of classical antiquity.</p><p>· The commissioning, display, and reception of artworks, examining how paintings, sculpture, and decorative objects were experienced in sacred, civic, and domestic settings.</p><p>· The iconography of religious, mythological, and allegorical subjects, and how images communicated ideas, social values, and cultural identity.</p><p>· Describe key stylistic and thematic features of Italian Renaissance painting, sculpture, and decorative art, drawing on direct study of works in London’s major museums.</p><p>· Discuss the social, religious, and historical contexts in which Renaissance art developed across Italy, using examples from both celebrated masterpieces and lesser-known objects.</p><p>· Identify the work of major Renaissance artists and explain their significance within the broader visual culture of the period.</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. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p><p>This course uses a Google Classroom to share documents. Please be advised the tutor is unable to bring printed out materials to the gallery nor are they able to email documents due to copyright and data protection restrictions.For more on our use of Google Classroom, 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 in the gallery with lecture and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.</p><p>Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided. Entrance to the National Gallery, the V&A and the Wallace Collection is free. However, the Courtauld Gallery requires the payment of a fee. This fee is not included in the course fees. You will be prompted to book your Courtauld ticket within a week of the class visit to the gallery. Fees for galleries change, so please check the Courtauld Gallery for the latest entrance fees.</p><p>Michelangelo, the High Renaissance to Mannerism</p><p>Introduction to the Italian Renaissance</p><p>Women of the art world: Italian Renaissance and the Baroque</p>Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingvirtual183229149VB236NONEThu08/10/26 - 26/11/2611:30 - 13:3011:3013:307 sessions (over 8 weeks)75-10 weeksWeekdayOSOff SiteElisa StafferiniBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-10-08T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeOct 2026Culture, history & humanities229229Italian Renaissance art in London museumsitalian-renaissance-art-in-london-museums/vb236-2627<p>Explore the richness of Italian Renaissance art (1400-1600) in this six-session course, with visits to London’s collections, including the National Gallery, the V&amp;A, the Wallace Collection, and the Courtauld Gallery. Alongside masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, participants will encounter lesser-known works that illuminate everyday life, devotional practices, and the social and political world of the period. Direct engagement with these objects encourages reflection on their creation, meaning, and original context.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-08 00:00:00<p>This course offers an in-depth study of Italian Renaissance art in London’s galleries, providing participants with the opportunity to engage directly with the works. Alongside celebrated masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, the course examines a wide range of lesser-known objects, from decorative arts and devotional items to works commissioned for private homes and public spaces. Special attention is given to understanding how artworks, now kept behind protective glass, were originally intended to be seen, experienced, and used.</p><p>Classes are organised thematically, covering topics such as portraiture, religious and secular iconography, artistic innovation, and the rediscovery of classical antiquity. Through gallery-based discussion and close analysis of objects, participants will develop skills in interpreting iconography, analysing technique, and situating artworks within their social, religious, and historical contexts.</p><p>Meeting points for the sessions will be emailed to you at least one week before the first session.</p><p>Explore the richness of Italian Renaissance art (1400-1600) in this six-session course, with visits to London’s collections, including the National Gallery, the V&amp;A, the Wallace Collection, and the Courtauld Gallery. Alongside masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Titian, participants will encounter lesser-known works that illuminate everyday life, devotional practices, and the social and political world of the period. Direct engagement with these objects encourages reflection on their creation, meaning, and original context.</p><p>· The development of Italian Renaissance art in Florence, Rome, and Venice, studied through works in London museums.</p><p>· The use of spatial illusion and perspective, and the rediscovery and creative adaptation of classical antiquity.</p><p>· The commissioning, display, and reception of artworks, examining how paintings, sculpture, and decorative objects were experienced in sacred, civic, and domestic settings.</p><p>· The iconography of religious, mythological, and allegorical subjects, and how images communicated ideas, social values, and cultural identity.</p><p>· Describe key stylistic and thematic features of Italian Renaissance painting, sculpture, and decorative art, drawing on direct study of works in London’s major museums.</p><p>· Discuss the social, religious, and historical contexts in which Renaissance art developed across Italy, using examples from both celebrated masterpieces and lesser-known objects.</p><p>· Identify the work of major Renaissance artists and explain their significance within the broader visual culture of the period.</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. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p><p>This course uses a Google Classroom to share documents. Please be advised the tutor is unable to bring printed out materials to the gallery nor are they able to email documents due to copyright and data protection restrictions.For more on our use of Google Classroom, 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 in the gallery with lecture and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.</p><p>Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided. Entrance to the National Gallery, the V&amp;A and the Wallace Collection is free. However, the Courtauld Gallery requires the payment of a fee. This fee is not included in the course fees. You will be prompted to book your Courtauld ticket within a week of the class visit to the gallery. Fees for galleries change, so please check the Courtauld Gallery for the latest entrance fees.</p><p>Michelangelo, the High Renaissance to Mannerism</p><p>Introduction to the Italian Renaissance</p><p>Women of the art world: Italian Renaissance and the Baroque</p>Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingconfigurable
