Art History Classes

Tue, Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 2–3 pm (4 sessions) | Reynolds Lecture Hall
Twyla Kitts, Educator and Researcher

Why are so many people fascinated by Fabergé creations and the last days of the Russian empire? The imperial eggs are worth millions, and the craftsmanship of Fabergé objects is remarkable, but perhaps the stories of opulence, revolution, and death associated with these works are the hooks that best catch our interest. This class explores how VMFA’s collection of Russian decorative arts 
evokes remembrances of a vanished era.

$80 (VMFA members $65)

Wed, Jan 22, 29, Feb 5, 12, 19, 26, 2–3 pm (6 sessions) | Reynolds Lecture Hall
Dr. Donald Schrader, Adjunct Professor of Art History, University of Mary Washington

It took the ancient Romans some time to take note of the Greek accomplishments in art and literature. But beginning in the 2nd century BC, the arts were transformed into expressions of distinctly Roman identity. Individuals sought to immortalize their memories and contributions to the state through private and public art. In the Empire, the state itself proclaimed its greatness through a wide range of projects, both practical and purely ceremonial. In this series, we will meet the ancient Romans—much more knowable through their art than the Greeks before 
them—in the moving portraits of the Republic; in the proud but nervous assertions of power in the Augustan age; and in the reflections of a changing world order in the later Empire.

$95 (VMFA members $80)

Thu, Mar 6, 13, 20, 27, 1–2 pm (4 sessions) | Conference Room 1 and Galleries
Dr. Susan Glasser, Secretary, Public Art Commission

Back by popular demand, this gallery-centered art history class returns for a second offering! Do you know how to look at art? That may seem like a silly question, but ask yourself: When faced with never-before-seen art, do you spend more time reading the label than looking at the art or rely on an “expert” to explain what you’re seeing? This interactive, skill-building class will help you walk into any gallery and begin decoding and encoding art using your own life experiences. (You’ll also learn what “decoding and encoding” mean in an art-viewing context.) 

$80 (VMFA members $65)

Thu, Apr 17, 1–2:30 pm (1 sessions) | Reynolds Lecture Hall and Galleries
Dr. Sarah Powers, VMFA Exhibition Curator

Join Dr. Sarah Powers, VMFA Exhibition Curator of Frida: Beyond the Myth, for a closer look at the life and work of artist Frida Kahlo. This one-session class will focus on works of art in the exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth, which explores the life of one of the 20th century’s most documented artists, who, as an individual, continues to elude our understanding of her. This class will aim to go beyond the popular myths about the artist to unpack meaning in the personal 
symbolism embedded in her work. The first hour of class will be a lecture in the Reynolds Lecture Hall. The class will conclude with a walkthrough of the special exhibition. 

$40 (VMFA members $35)