Italian Renaissance drawing: design, form and function
Behind every great Renaissance painting is an equally astounding, some would say greater, Renaissance drawing. Indeed artists were judged firstly not by the quality of their paintings but by their grasp of, and skill in, drawing. Discover more about why and how great Renaissance works were created.
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- Start Date: 07 Jan 2026End Date: 18 Feb 2026Wed (Daytime): 10:30 - 12:30OnlineFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
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What is the course about?
Behind every great Renaissance painting is an equally astounding, some would say greater, drawing. Indeed, artists were judged firstly not by the quality of their paintings, but by their grasp of and skill in drawing. But although there are some extraordinary examples that survive, many did not.
This course will bring together some of those paintings with their accompanying surviving drawings to demonstrate that the importance of drawing upon the very fabric of the Renaissance cannot be underestimated, because without drawings there could be no Italian Renaissance. By examining how this, at first, purely functional object was developed, made and used, we will discover how they would eventually come to be regarded as works of art in their own right.
What will we cover?
Each week will focus on the different materials and techniques used to create some of these sublime drawings - such as vellum parchment, lead-white, black and red chalks, charcoal and metalpoint - and the variety of effects that were obtained.
The course will also cover the development of drawing plans for patrons to presentation drawings, and the use and function of drawing books. The drawings of well known artists such as Michelangelo (1475-1564) and Leonardo (1452-1519) will be discussed and analysed, however, this course will also look at the antecedents and lesser known contemporaries of these great artist, such as: Antonio and Piero Pollaiuolo (about 1432-1498 and about 1441-before 1496), Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449-1494), Pontormo (1494-1557), Andrea del Verrocchio (about 1435-1488) and many others.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major motivations of the artists and the uses of their drawings
- State in terms of chronology, the span of the period
- identify different styles and techniques of drawings
- Differentiate between the artists' different styles and choices of medium
- Identify Renaissance influences
- Speak about a single drawing in terms of its medium.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course and does not assume any previous study or reading, but you will need a good grasp. You will gain more from the course if you are able and willing to do some supplementary reading. As with most of our history and current affairs courses, an open mind and a willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations. You will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to operate basic elements of Zoom, including chat, microphone and camera.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course is an online course and will be taught in a seminar format, with the use of slides and handouts. This course will use a Google Classroom to share documents; you will be invited to join this digital space within a week of the course start date. Please note: this course is live and will not be recorded for reasons of copyright, data protection and digital infrastructure.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You may wish to bring a notebook to take notes or purchase any optional, recommended reading.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Gods and heroes from Classical to Renaissance art
Leslie Primo has spent more than 15 years giving lectures to the general public at the National Gallery for the Information and Education departments. During this time he graduated with a degree in History of Art and an MA in Renaissance Studies from Birkbeck, University College of London. In his studies he specialised in early Medieval and Renaissance studies, including, Italian Renaissance Drawing, Art and Architecture in Europe 1250-1400 Art and Architecture in Europe 1400-1500, Medici and Patronage, Narrative Painting in the Age of Giotto, and the work of Peter Paul Rubens focusing on his paintings of the Judgement of Paris, and Greek Myth in paintings. He is also an accredited Art 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.
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Iconography and iconology: secrets of the old masters revealedFull fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £168.00 - Gods and heroes from Classical to Renaissance artFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
