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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK

Understanding the Renaissance with the Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones

The Garden of Earthly Delights (c. 1490-1500)
The Garden of Earthly Delights (c. 1490-1500) Photograph: Hieronymus Bosch via Wikimedia Commons

The Renaissance is one of the most hotly contested concepts in art history – once celebrated as the birth of the modern world, now many historians question its very existence.

In this fascinating masterclass, the celebrated art critic Jonathan Jones paints a new and vibrant picture of the Renaissance and its enduring significance. Marking the launch of his new book, Earthly Delights, you will be among the first to hear his radical new perspective.

Over two hours, you will journey through a period of seismic change in which artists, writers and thinkers across Europe dared to imagine new worlds and society was rocked by the ‘discovery’ of the Americas. Jonathan will explore the mysterious figure of Hieronymus Bosch, who created a beguiling world of monsters and mayhem, as well as the radical ideas and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci.

You will come away with a renewed excitement for and understanding of European history, as you learn from one of the UK’s foremost art writers.

This masterclass marks the publication of Jonathan’s new book, Earthly Delights: A History of the Renaissance. You can pre-order a copy from the Guardian Bookshop with your ticket. The book is released on 19 October 2023.

Earthly Delights: A History of the Renaissance
Earthly Delights: A History of the Renaissance Photograph: Guardian Bookshop

This course is for …

  • Anyone with an interest in art and history; no knowledge is required

  • Anyone interested in the Renaissance and the latest research and thinking on this period

Course content

  • What is the Renaissance?

  • The key Renaissance invention of ‘utopias’

  • The mystery of Hieronymus Bosch – who was this enigmatic painter and can he be called a ‘Renaissance’ artist?

  • The impact of the first European voyage across the Atlantic in 1492

  • How the Renaissance liberated art and thought

  • Why the Renaissance can still help us understand ourselves and our world

Tutor profile

Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones is also the author of books on Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Artemisia Gentileschi, and was series consultant on BBC2’s Civilisations. This Masterclass is based on his new book Earthly Delights: A History of the Renaissance, published by Thames and Hudson on 19 October 2023.

Details

Date: Tuesday 17 October 2023
Time: 6pm-8pm (BST)
Price: £65 (plus £3.56 booking fee) or £86.50 (plus £4.55 booking fee) with a pre-order of Earthly Delights: A History of the Renaissance

A catch-up recording will be shared after the class and will be available for two weeks.

This masterclass is available globally. See this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

6pm BST | 7pm CEST | 10am PDT | 1pm EDT

You will be sent a link to the webinar 24 hours and 30 minutes before the course start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you do not receive the access link 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

About Guardian Masterclasses

Purchasing tickets to our online classes is a powerful way to fund the Guardian; thank you for your support. Sign up to our newsletter and you’ll be among the first to find out about our latest courses and special offers. You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

We aim to make all Guardian Masterclasses fully accessible. If you require any adjustments to enable your participation in this course, please get in touch with us at masterclasses@theguardian.com.

By proceeding, you agree to the Guardian Masterclasses Terms and Conditions. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy.

Returns policy

Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.

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