Age of Michelangelo: Arts of 16th Century Europe - Course

Explore a remarkable period in the history of European culture, with expert lecturers bringing to life the work of 16th-century artists.  

Discover how the Renaissance, from its beginnings in Italy, came to affect the whole of Europe, with innovations in painting, sculpture and architecture. Gifted across all areas of the arts, Michelangelo emerged as a hugely influential figure.  The first modern art historian, Giorgio Vasari, would celebrate his achievements and present him as the ultimate Renaissance artist. Yet even Michelangelo had his competitors - notably Raphael, Titian, Dürer and Holbein – who together would make their age one of the greatest in the history of European art. 

The 16th century was also notable for other, wider developments in the art world.  Perhaps the most important of these was printing, with illustrated books and prints by Dürer and his contemporaries making images familiar to a wide audience. The print would also play a key role in spreading new ideas across Europe.