|
Courses >
Art, History, Psychology, & Literature > Enjoying European Art Online
 The art and architecture of Europe offers an overwhelming array of choices that is sure to exhaust even the most dedicated art lover. If you are planning a trip to Europe, or just want a better understanding of European art, this course will introduce you to the most important works of European art on a personal and familiar level. You'll learn where to find the works, how to get the most out of the viewing experience, and you'll receive a wealth of commentary and interesting historical information based on the instructor's deep love of art and culture and extensive travel experiences.
This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Diane Scott.
 Diane Scott is an art historian and seasoned world traveler. She has over 15 years of teaching experience, both in the classroom and on television. Diane earned degrees with Highest Honors from the University of California in both Art History and Art Studio, the practice of art. Her Master's degree is in the field of art history. In 1997, she received a full grant from the Great Teachers Program as well as funding from the International Studies Program at Sacramento City College to pursue her interests in transdisciplinary approaches to global art. Besides European art, Diane really enjoys the arts of non-Western Cultures such as the Maya. She is a certified instructor with the Cuyamungue Institute in New Mexico, an anthropological research and teaching institution. She is also a writer, editor and member of the local arts organization in her community.
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).
Syllabus:
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
In this lesson, you'll learn how this course will enhance your appreciation and recognition of the greatest artworks of all time. You'll see the importance of the way hundreds of images included within the lessons of this course are already linked to the World Wide Web for easy exploration. We'll discuss how to make the best use of the wealth of information available about art, artists, and their fascinating times, as well as how to access world class museums like the Louvre in Paris.
|
| Friday - Lesson 02 |
Today, you'll plunge into the extensive artistic contributions of Italy. In fact, this country is so rich with art that I've divided the study of Italy into two lessons. In this lesson, we'll focus on magnificent paintings and sculpture of great Renaissance artists like Michelangelo and Raphael. We'll make sure to define art terminology with a few simple sentences to help you follow along.
|
| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce you to the monumental architecture of Italy. As with the paintings and sculpture, you'll see the buildings themselves and read a short commentary on each. This lesson is designed to give you a feel for the history and important artistic aspects associated with the architecture. You'll get the chance to explore Pompeii, which was buried by volcanic ash 2,000 years ago, in your online assignment.
|
| Friday - Lesson 04 |
We'll take a walk through the fascinating museums of Paris in this lesson where you'll meet the Mona Lisa, Impressionist artists like Monet and Degas, the Cubist Picasso and Henri Matisse. Each time we enter a new country, we'll go over a brief history of artistic expression in that country. And we'll discuss art styles as we go along. You'll even understand about the style called Dada, which means "baby talk" in German.
|
| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
Whether you like Chateaux or the grandeur of palaces, you'll enjoy learning about the most famous ones in this lesson. Today, we'll be exploring Roman architecture in France. Don't forget today's assignment, which takes you to the architectural space of the great caves in France with their spectacular ancient wall paintings. This lesson's easy-to-use links will help you access the latest online information and images of the recently found cave called Chauvet, used by artists 30,000 years ago.
|
| Friday - Lesson 06 |
In this lesson, we'll review a brief history of artistic influences in England, stemming from Roman invaders to Christian themes that mix with Celtic interlocking design. You'll see examples of all these ideas while we visit the huge British Museum. There, you'll investigate the Parthenon marble sculptures created in Greece over 2,000 years ago. Next, we'll peruse the National Gallery's collection of lush portraits and landscapes by Thomas Gainsborough and others, plus visionary works by William Blake and the bewitching women of the Pre-Raphaelites.
|
| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
Today, we'll explore both prehistoric sites like Stonehenge and medieval Gothic Cathedrals like Westminster Abbey. We'll visit the imposing Blemheim Palace, which will give us a chance to discuss landscape gardens of England. The palace is surrounded by acres of planned vistas and artificial lakes created by the famous Capability Brown.
|
| Friday - Lesson 08 |
Today, we'll discuss the importance of print making by looking at the work of the fascinating artist, Albrecht Dürer. You'll enjoy works from the Egyptian Museum, like the beautiful bust of Queen Nefertiti. You'll get to know "Mad" King Ludwig of Bavaria and his idea of the perfect castle, Neuschwanstein. As in every lesson, you'll be able to click on the image within the lesson an be directed to the World Wide Web for more images and information.
|
| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
Today, you'll learn all about the great Vincent Van Gogh's works and how his alternating bouts with depression affected his artistic expression. You'll be impressed by the exquisitely painted scenes of Rembrandt and luminous works of Vermeer, as well as many other Dutch painters. We'll even visit the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art to see the dreamlike paintings of Marc Chagall, and you'll learn why some artists thought the abstract style was the essence of beauty.
|
| Friday - Lesson 10 |
You'll see the importance of this lesson expressed in the glory of Vienna, where emperors, artists, and musicians joined to support and create new styles and new sounds. You'll meet artists like Gustave Klimt, who revealed his own heart in rich paintings, and you'll understand why Art Nouveau arose in the streets of Vienna. We'll take a long look at the extensive collections of these wealthy rulers, including works by Raphael and Caravaggio, whose paintings match his dramatic personality.
|
| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
Today, we'll go over the many different styles and artists of Spain. We'll visit the Salvador Dalí Museum to enjoy his surreal take on life. We'll also explore the work of Diego Velázquez, painter to the royal family, and Pablo Picasso's war-protest piece called Guernica. Then we'll go to Toledo to spend time with the ethereal works of El Greco, the Greek.
|
| Friday - Lesson 12 |
In our final lesson, I want to give you a feeling for the culture of Spain through the architecture. To do this, we'll travel through time and space to see and learn about architecture from the 10th century through the 20th century. We'll look at the fantastic cathedral of Antoni Gaudí, the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the extraordinary 16th century monastery palace called San Lorenzo de El Escorial, and an eight-story-tall apartment building in Barcelona that was purposely built without a straight wall or sharp corner.
|
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Student Reviews:
"Having many friends living in Europe, I am anxious to put on my backpack and go touring with them. The course also awakened the artistic talents I had let get rusty over the years...lots of inspiration both in my own art and personal style."
"I enjoyed learning about the art world through this class. I may never get to see all of these places so it was nice to "see" them through my instructor's eyes. She kept my interest with her lessons. Thanks for making this available to me. It was good to learn of not only the art, but a little history, customs, and even some fun facts of the countries."
"I enjoyed the refresher course! I found that I didn't remember quite as much information from my days as a student as I thought! This helped me to dig deeper and find my interest again. Thank you!"
"I have been visiting museums for so many years and never had an art history class. This has really opened my eyes. Thank you!"
"I really enjoyed this course, and have a much greater understanding and appreciation for art now. I can't wait to get to a few more European art museums!"
"I really enjoyed this course and have found a new love and understanding for art."
"The course exceeded my expectations. I am pleased to have information that will be of help in future travels and "arm chair" travels from now on. I also learned so much about other cultures that I did not know."
"This is a wonderful art history course. Instead of beginning with the earliest known art, you tour European countries and learn about the art from geographical regions. I would like to visit Europe one day and this is a great guide to the 'must see' art there."
"This is the best class yet that I have taken. I could not wait for the next lesson to be released. It was easy to understand and gave me a whole new insight into the world of art. Thank you so much."
"This was a great class. I have traveled to several of the countries and I am returning to Italy in June. It's fun to read about what I have seen and look forward to seeing Italy again armed with the information from the class."
"Thanks to this course I am more inspired than ever to visit the museums of Europe! I feel more prepared and have a better understanding of what to look for and be sure not to miss. I am especially intrigued by the architecture of Spain, which is an entirely new interest for me. The teacher's writing style was fun and her knowledge was extraordinary! Thank you!"
"Diane is a fine instructor. She responded to every question in a timely manner. Her answers were concise and clear. Also, I was always amazed at her knowledge of additional web sites for us to explore. It was also nice to have someone who has been to all the places of the course, and was able to give us her personal perspectives. By the end of the class, I had a desire to sit down with Diane over a glass of wine and talk about art and her travels."
"This was a fabulous course for many reasons. I enjoyed the content because it gave the background for many places I've been and art works that I have seen. As well, the instructor does an exquisite job of making it VERY interesting. Thank you!"
"I learned a lot and had fun; great combo. Congratulations, Diane on the fine job you did organizing the class and the manner in which you shared your zest for the subjects with the students."
"I enjoyed this course immensely. It provided me with a wonderful opportunity to escape at a time I truly needed it. I learned much about the world of art, an area in which I hold little expertise. I thank you for this opportunity."
"This class was a great overview of the art/architectural highlights in Europe. I enjoyed the instructor.s style of writing and attention to detail. Also, her commentary from her traveling experiences were great fun to read!"
"I enjoyed this course immensely. It provided me with a wonderful opportunity to escape at a time I truly needed it. I learned much about the world of art, an area I hold little expertise. I thank you for this opportunity."
"I really enjoyed this course and the friendly, yet intelligent narrative of the instructor. I also liked how organized all the material was. I could find information if I needed to review."
"With mouse in hand I have clicked my way across Europe, led by a knowledgeable guide with a great sense of humor. I have visited art galleries and museums, looked with awe at ancient architecture, learned history, and about the culture of many countries. In the process I have also discovered much more about the Internet. My travels are not over as, thanks to you, Diane, I can continue to click through your suggested websites and find others, learning as I go along. I have enjoyed each lesson you set up so well and I feel enriched."
"Professor Scott is awesome! This course truly made me want to take a trip to Europe right now! The lessons were informative, yet still interesting. I was definitely satisfied with the course."
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Recommended Courses:
Students who enrolled in Enjoying European Art Online were also interested in the following courses:
Beginning Conversational French
Film Literacy
Instant Italian
Introduction to Journaling
Music Made Easy
|
