Art in Rome Through Time - 4 Part Series

Zoom Course

Art in Rome Through Time - Luca Pietrosanti

Date: Minimum 5 Friends - Choose a preferred start date, time and weekly/bi-weekly/monthly frequency, then CONTACT US to schedule

Time: TBD

Expert: Luca Pietrosanti, Art Historian

Fees: $100/4-Session Course (Package) per Zoom Window 

Doing Good: 10% of net proceeds to Muri Sicuri or nonprofit of your choice

Itinerary

Art in Rome Through Time

Art inspires and is alive everywhere in the Eternal City. Let’s explore!

Join Luca Pietrosanti, Art Historian and Expert Guide, and friends for a lively discussion and deep-dive look into the progression of art in Rome through time, from antiquity to present day. Luca masterfully connects past to present, west to east, traditional art to contemporary design, Pudic Venus to Kim Kardashian (yep!), and concepts to reality. We learn the language of Western art history and survey the art in Rome from ancient mosaics and Renaissance masterpieces by Michelangelo to baroque statues by Bernini and present-day Street Art, supported by the nonprofit Muri Sicuri. A revelation!

WEEK 1: Classical Rome: Art and Power in the Center of the Empire

The first Roman art can be dated back to 509 B.C.E., with the legendary founding of the Roman Republic, and lasted until 330 C.E. Through the vast artistic production of the ancient Romans we can re-live the story of over a thousand years of history. The rise and the fall of a civilization that brought together the different people and cultures of the Mediterranean, creating a unique synthesis of visual imagery, architecture and urban forms that are still at the roots of our modern culture. All this, put in a global context, and connected masterfully to the art, history and culture of Asia, through Luca's colorful story-telling and a useful visual timeline. Important concepts: Realism, idealism and abstraction. 

WEEK 2: Christian Rome: From Darkness to Light

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city goes through a long period of decay--known as the Middle Ages: plagues, invasions and calamities made the ancient monuments fall into ruins. During these times, the city was taken over by the popes, who struggled to spread the Catholic faith and consolidated their political power by creating castles, fortifications, new churches, and began to use symbolism as a powerful tool for artistic expression and mass communication. In the late 15th century, during the age of artistic and cultural renewal known as the Renaissance, the city rose from the ashes and became home to the genius of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bramante, whose works are still among its most precious treasures. Luca connects Christian Rome to Buddhism in China, and to Islam in Central Asia, through symbols depicted in art, textiles and architecture. Important concept: Symbolism

WEEK 3: Counter-Reformation and Baroque Rome: The Spectacle of Faith

In the second half of the 16th century, art became a powerful instrument for the diffusion of the Catholic faith, at that time challenged by the Protestant schism. Rome witnesses the birth of Baroque art, an emotional and heroic style that lasted through most of the 17th century, designed to overwhelm the masses through its visual illusion, dramatic lighting, strong colors, and violent movement, that will soon spread all over Catholic Europe. Artists like Pietro da Cortona, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini channeled their genius into spectacular theatrical frescoes, sculptures, palaces, and churches that made Rome, more than ever, the artistic center of Italy.

WEEK 4: Modern and Contemporary Rome: On the Shoulders of Giants

After the unification of Italy, Rome became the capital of the new born Italian kingdom. The city goes trough an urbanist and architectural renovation to be transformed it into a modern capital. Old districts are demolished to leave place to monuments celebrating the new monarchy. After witnessing the rise of fascism and the disasters of two World Wars, Rome changes face again with the proclamation of the Republic, ready for a new challenge: combining the urge for modernity and globalization with the preservation of its historical heritage.

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