Lunchtime lecture: Artist's love letters, drawing intimacy
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Location: Online
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
- Course Code: VB774
- Dates: 14/02/25 - 14/02/25
- Time: 13:00 - 14:00
- Taught: Fri, Daytime
- Duration: 1 session
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Sarah Jaffray
Course Code: VB774
Duration: 1 session
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.
What is the course about?
Art history needs the writing of artists. Letters are first-hand accounts of biography and artwork interpretation, but love letters feel like they should be in another category. What are the ethics involved when the letters are intimate? Can anything historic ever be private?
This lunchtime lecture will look at the love letters of artists like Michelangelo and Lee Miller, Guillaume Apollinare and Georgia O'Keeffe to flesh out the artists' humanity, giving us greater insight into them as people while also asking questions about the ethical implications of examining the private correspondence of another person.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
• Historiography - the historical research of artworks and artists
•The private loves/admirers of some of history's famous artists
• Drawing as an act of intimacy.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Discuss the ethics of using letters in art historical research
• Describe at least two of the letters used in this lecture
• Discuss the artistic quality of love letters.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is open to all.
You should be able to operate basic elements of Zoom, e.g. microphone, camera and log in.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with lecture and slide presentation. This course does not include an active discussion element, but there will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. This is a live lecture and will not be recorded for reasons related to copyright, data protection and digital infrastructure.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional costs.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Search for 'lunchtime lectures' to see all of the talks on offer in the coming year.
Sarah Jaffray holds a BA and MA in Art History with an emphasis in 19th/20th century France and a minor in the Italian Renaissance. She holds a second MA in Cultural Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Sarah was a lecturer for several colleges and universities in the Los Angeles area before relocating to London in 2012. She has worked in curatorial roles at the British Museum and Wellcome Collection. In addition to her current teaching at City Lit, Sarah is a lecturer at the University of Arts London and the Tutor Coordinator for City Lit's Art History programme. Her art historical practice focuses on experimental narratives, artistic process, art pedagogy, politics and philosophy. Sarah's current research is focused on translation and empathy.
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.