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Italy and the Islamic World
Online course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Being up close with treasured objects from the V&A's collections brings your learning to life. Get precious time with incredible exemplars, as well as with our expert tutors and your fellow learners.
Italy and the Islamic world may conjure up ideas of hostility and confrontation. The reality, however, is far more complex. Discover the rich, complex and sometimes surprising story of interaction between Italy and the Islamic world. Explore the luxury goods imported to Italy and the inspiration they offered to artists.
Learn from our world-class experts wherever you are, whenever suits you: watch lectures live or view the recording later in your own time. You can experience the full breadth and depth of the V&A's collections with 20 hours of study over 10 weeks. Learn at your own pace: lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials are available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for 10 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. And finally, join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.
Learn from our world-class experts wherever you are, whenever suits you: watch lectures live or view the recording later in your own time. You can experience the full breadth and depth of the V&A's collections with 20 hours of study over 10 weeks. Learn at your own pace: lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials are available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for 10 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. And finally, join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.
V&A Academy Course Leader
Dr Antonia Gatward Cevizli
Dr Antonia Gatward Cevizli is an independent art historian specialising in cultural exchange between Italy and the Ottomans. Her publications have focused on Sultan Mehmed II, gift giving and representations of Ottomans and Mamluks in Italian art. She is a regular lecturer at the V&A Academy and The Courtauld summer school and is accredited by The
Superb lecturers, their enthusiasm and knowledge when lecturing on line was thrilling. Previous V&A Academy Course Attendee
Course overview
The Venetian ambassador to the Ottomans wrote in 1553 ‘Being merchants, we cannot live without them’. Glassblowers on Murano were producing mosque lamps while carpets made in Anatolia were gracing the sanctuaries of churches. Pseudo Arabic script adorned the haloes in paintings of the Virgin Mary and the Ottoman sultan’s image was immortalised by Gentile Bellini. This is a story of trade and diplomacy that highlights the connectivity of the Mediterranean and beyond. We will explore a variety of Italian states and their trading partners: the Mamluks, the Ottomans and the Safavids. We will examine the kinds of goods entering Italy from different regions of the Islamic world and trace their presence and reception through their appearance in Italian paintings. These goods were highly esteemed and we will see the major impact that they had on Italian decorative arts. Italian paintings will also enable us to chart knowledge of the Islamic world and its peoples and what that can tell us about diplomatic relations at the time. This course offers a unique perspective on this interaction by engaging both with Italian art and that of its neighbours in the Islamic World.
Membership Priority Booking will open at 10.00 BST on Wednesday 8 October 2025. General Booking will open at 10.00 BST on Tuesday 21 October 2025.
Being up close with treasured objects from the V&A's collections brings your learning to life. Get precious time with incredible exemplars, as well as with our expert tutors and your fellow learners.
Enrol now
Online course: Italy and the Islamic World
25 February 2026 - 25 March 2026
£125.00
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)
