Venice's Artistic Revolution

Around 1500, Venice reached the height of its wealth and cultural influence, surpassing Florence. Its lagoon setting, unique light, and access to Eastern pigments inspired a revolution in painting. At its center was Giovanni Bellini, whose brushwork and mastery of oil color shaped Giorgione and Titian. In a richly illustrated program, art historian Nigel McGilchrist traces Venice’s artistic rise and its gradual decline as influence shifted northward to the emerging powerhouses of Antwerp and Amsterdam. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)