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Baroque to Rococo (Online)
Year course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
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Tickets available from 10.00 on Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Dive into a remarkable period in the history of European art from 1650-1790, and immerse yourself in extravagance: from the grandeur of French Baroque to the exuberance of Italian Rococo...
The art world during the early modern period was remarkable for its stylistic diversity. Throughout Europe, increasing wealth together with better opportunities for travel, widened the art market beyond the traditional spheres of church and state. Luxury goods such as lacquer, textiles, and ceramics started to arrive from the East in great quantities. Large scale cultural and social shifts - from the age of Enlightenment to the Industrial Revolution - had significant impact in all areas of European culture. Join expert lecturers to bring this fascinating period in European art history to life, with the V&A's remarkable collections for inspiration.
This course runs online every Thursday for 10 weeks online, plus you'll get an extra 10 weeks to catch up once the course ends. Not able to attend live? You can also follow the course on catch up. Want to enrich your learning experience with exclusive access to bonus sessions, such as gallery talks and object study? Check out the in-person version of this course at the V&A South Kensington!
For more details on how our courses work, see V&A Academy online questions · V&A
This course is for participants aged 18 and over.
The art world during the early modern period was remarkable for its stylistic diversity. Throughout Europe, increasing wealth together with better opportunities for travel, widened the art market beyond the traditional spheres of church and state. Luxury goods such as lacquer, textiles, and ceramics started to arrive from the East in great quantities. Large scale cultural and social shifts - from the age of Enlightenment to the Industrial Revolution - had significant impact in all areas of European culture. Join expert lecturers to bring this fascinating period in European art history to life, with the V&A's remarkable collections for inspiration.
This course runs online every Thursday for 10 weeks online, plus you'll get an extra 10 weeks to catch up once the course ends. Not able to attend live? You can also follow the course on catch up. Want to enrich your learning experience with exclusive access to bonus sessions, such as gallery talks and object study? Check out the in-person version of this course at the V&A South Kensington!
For more details on how our courses work, see V&A Academy online questions · V&A
This course is for participants aged 18 and over.
Course Leader
Kathy McLauchlan
Dr Kathy McLauchlan is an art historian specialising in French paining and lecturer with the Arts Society, Morley College and Oxford University.
I enjoyed the excellence of the speakers, their knowledge and ability to hold attention and make the subjects interesting. Previous V&A Academy Attendee
Membership Priority Booking will open at 10.00 BST on Wednesday 24th June 2026. General Booking will open at 10.00 BST on Wednesday 8th July 2026.
Our courses are built using the latest Microsoft software. Tune in to expert lectures live or catch up on demand. Join discussions and continue your learning with downloadable handouts and presentations. Find out more >>
Course overview
Step back into a fascinating period of social and cultural change, and join expert speakers to discover how a growing art market reshaped relationships between artists, patrons and audiences.
Weekly lecture topics include:
French Grandeur
Art and its International Connections
Artists and Patrons
...and many more!
By the end of this course, you'll understand the contributions made by individual artists, designers and architects including Wren, Chardin and Gainsborough within a wider political and cultural context.
Ready to dive deeper? Take a look at the full course programme by clicking 'download programme' below.
Weekly lecture topics include:
French Grandeur
Art and its International Connections
Artists and Patrons
...and many more!
By the end of this course, you'll understand the contributions made by individual artists, designers and architects including Wren, Chardin and Gainsborough within a wider political and cultural context.
Ready to dive deeper? Take a look at the full course programme by clicking 'download programme' below.
Enrol now
Year course: Baroque to Rococo (Online)
1 October 2026 - 3 December 2026
£300.00
Tickets not available yet
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
