This two-week course explores pre-modern paintings and works of art before the ‘era of art’ in three London collections. Week one focuses on late medieval Italian panel paintings (c.1260-1370) at the National Gallery (Sainsbury Wing) and the Courtauld Gallery. The following week examines Byzantine objects in relation to selected medieval European and Islamic works of art at the V&A.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
The period covered by the course is often described as ‘Early Renaissance’; with the paintings from this mid-13th - early 14th century period labelled as ‘primitive’. This course aims to challenge those ideas by considering them more as individual functional, devotional objects, rather than works of ‘art’ that heralded the Italian Renaissance. We will unpack the reasons behind the adaptation of ‘Byzantinising’ elements and innovation of key iconographies which were deployed by the many anonymous masters and famous Tuscan artists, such as Cimabue, Giotto, Duccio and Bernardo Daddi.
In addition, we consider both the materiality and wider context of the Italian school paintings in relation to icons and objects in other media from the medieval Byzantine, Islamic and European spheres to appreciate the many interconnections of the period.
A meeting point for each session will be emailed to you at least one week before the start date.
What will we cover?
• Art historiographical issues relevant to the late medieval period
• The meaning and function of key iconographies; their appropriation and innovation
• Materiality, reception and transmission
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
· Describe two major iconographic themes of the period and explain their basic meaning
· Discuss different art historical positions and approaches to gallery display
· Identify shared elements in Italian, Byzantine, Islamic works of art, as well as their distinctions
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 or visual engagement exercises.
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.
In week one, transit-time by bus or on foot between the two galleries at either end of The Strand has been factored in.
Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Please be advised, we do not use headphones or microphones for our museum courses. 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. Entrance to the National Gallery is free but participants will need to purchase general admission tickets for the Courtauld Gallery in advance or on arrival at Somerset House (Tickets can be used to visit the rest of the collection after the class, but not any special exhibitions). Please check the Courtauld Gallery website for current prices.
Helen’s main area of art historical focus is Byzantium, Late Medieval Italy and their intersections, particularly at places of pilgrimage in the Sinai, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levantine Holy Land. Helen is an established lecturer at City Lit, The Arts Society and an Associate Lecturer the Courtauld Institute of Art, where she is a currently reading for a part-time PhD in Byzantine art history. She holds two MAs in her subject areas from the Courtauld, as well as a BA Hons in the History of Art, Teacher Training and Fine Art qualifications. Helen is also a professional artist and iconographer, with icon commissions in cathedrals and churches worldwide. Previously she has delivered interdisciplinary courses in icon and late medieval panel painting in the UK, Italy and Sinai Peninsula and worked in the Russian art auction world, museum, community and adult education sectors.
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/late-medieval-panel-paintings-in-london-galleries2720367Late Medieval Panel Paintings in London Gallerieshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/l/a/late-medieval-panel-paintings-in-london-galleries-1080.jpg6969GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Ancient & medieval world/Courses/vm/Courses to do around London2285113611771904167812285117711361653<p>This two-week course explores pre-modern paintings and works of art before the ‘era of art’ in three London collections. Week one focuses on late medieval Italian panel paintings (c.1260-1370) at the National Gallery (Sainsbury Wing) and the Courtauld Gallery. The following week examines Byzantine objects in relation to selected medieval European and Islamic works of art at the V&A.</p>002720247Late Medieval Panel Paintings in London Galleries6969https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/l/a/late-medieval-panel-paintings-in-london-galleries-1080_1.jpgInStockDaytimeMonOff SiteAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-06-01T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB2516969Late Medieval Panel Paintings in London Galleries554569Helen Dejeanlate-medieval-panel-paintings-in-london-galleries/vb251-2526<p>This two-week course explores pre-modern paintings and works of art before the ‘era of art’ in three London collections. Week one focuses on late medieval Italian panel paintings (c.1260-1370) at the National Gallery (Sainsbury Wing) and the Courtauld Gallery. The following week examines Byzantine objects in relation to selected medieval European and Islamic works of art at the V&A.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-01 00:00:00<p>The period covered by the course is often described as ‘Early Renaissance’; with the paintings from this mid-13th - early 14th century period labelled as ‘primitive’. This course aims to challenge those ideas by considering them more as individual functional, devotional objects, rather than works of ‘art’ that heralded the Italian Renaissance. We will unpack the reasons behind the adaptation of ‘Byzantinising’ elements and innovation of key iconographies which were deployed by the many anonymous masters and famous Tuscan artists, such as Cimabue, Giotto, Duccio and Bernardo Daddi.</p><p>In addition, we consider both the materiality and wider context of the Italian school paintings in relation to icons and objects in other media from the medieval Byzantine, Islamic and European spheres to appreciate the many interconnections of the period.</p><p>A meeting point for each session will be emailed to you at least one week before the start date.</p><p>This two-week course explores pre-modern paintings and works of art before the ‘era of art’ in three London collections. Week one focuses on late medieval Italian panel paintings (c.1260-1370) at the National Gallery (Sainsbury Wing) and the Courtauld Gallery. The following week examines Byzantine objects in relation to selected medieval European and Islamic works of art at the V&A.</p><p>• Art historiographical issues relevant to the late medieval period</p><p>• The meaning and function of key iconographies; their appropriation and innovation</p><p>• Materiality, reception and transmission</p><p>· Describe two major iconographic themes of the period and explain their basic meaning</p><p>· Discuss different art historical positions and approaches to gallery display</p><p>· Identify shared elements in Italian, Byzantine, Islamic works of art, as well as their distinctions</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 or visual engagement exercises.</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>In week one, transit-time by bus or on foot between the two galleries at either end of The Strand has been factored in.</p><p>Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Please be advised, we do not use headphones or microphones for our museum courses. 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. Entrance to the National Gallery is free but participants will need to purchase general admission tickets for the Courtauld Gallery in advance or on arrival at Somerset House (Tickets can be used to visit the rest of the collection after the class, but not any special exhibitions). Please check the Courtauld Gallery website for current prices.</p><p>VB113: Medieval pilgrimage: Arts of Sinai</p><p>VB944 Icons & Iconography of the Byzantine World</p>Art historyAncient & medieval worldvirtual556945VB251NONEMon01/06/26 - 08/06/2614:00 - 16:0014:0016:002 sessions (over 2 weeks)21 to 4 weeksWeekdayOSOff SiteHelen DejeanBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-06-01T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeJun 2026Culture, history & humanities6969Late Medieval Panel Paintings in London Gallerieslate-medieval-panel-paintings-in-london-galleries/vb251-2526<p>This two-week course explores pre-modern paintings and works of art before the ‘era of art’ in three London collections. Week one focuses on late medieval Italian panel paintings (c.1260-1370) at the National Gallery (Sainsbury Wing) and the Courtauld Gallery. The following week examines Byzantine objects in relation to selected medieval European and Islamic works of art at the V&amp;A.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-01 00:00:00<p>The period covered by the course is often described as ‘Early Renaissance’; with the paintings from this mid-13th - early 14th century period labelled as ‘primitive’. This course aims to challenge those ideas by considering them more as individual functional, devotional objects, rather than works of ‘art’ that heralded the Italian Renaissance. We will unpack the reasons behind the adaptation of ‘Byzantinising’ elements and innovation of key iconographies which were deployed by the many anonymous masters and famous Tuscan artists, such as Cimabue, Giotto, Duccio and Bernardo Daddi.</p><p>In addition, we consider both the materiality and wider context of the Italian school paintings in relation to icons and objects in other media from the medieval Byzantine, Islamic and European spheres to appreciate the many interconnections of the period.</p><p>A meeting point for each session will be emailed to you at least one week before the start date.</p><p>This two-week course explores pre-modern paintings and works of art before the ‘era of art’ in three London collections. Week one focuses on late medieval Italian panel paintings (c.1260-1370) at the National Gallery (Sainsbury Wing) and the Courtauld Gallery. The following week examines Byzantine objects in relation to selected medieval European and Islamic works of art at the V&amp;A.</p><p>• Art historiographical issues relevant to the late medieval period</p><p>• The meaning and function of key iconographies; their appropriation and innovation</p><p>• Materiality, reception and transmission</p><p>· Describe two major iconographic themes of the period and explain their basic meaning</p><p>· Discuss different art historical positions and approaches to gallery display</p><p>· Identify shared elements in Italian, Byzantine, Islamic works of art, as well as their distinctions</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 or visual engagement exercises.</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>In week one, transit-time by bus or on foot between the two galleries at either end of The Strand has been factored in.</p><p>Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Please be advised, we do not use headphones or microphones for our museum courses. 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. Entrance to the National Gallery is free but participants will need to purchase general admission tickets for the Courtauld Gallery in advance or on arrival at Somerset House (Tickets can be used to visit the rest of the collection after the class, but not any special exhibitions). Please check the Courtauld Gallery website for current prices.</p><p>VB113: Medieval pilgrimage: Arts of Sinai</p><p>VB944 Icons &amp; Iconography of the Byzantine World</p>Art historyAncient & medieval worldconfigurable
19041136Ancient & medieval worldhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/ancient-medieval-world1/2/285/1177/1136/19041/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Ancient & medieval world
