- Thursday, 7 November 2024
- Thursday, 14 November 2024
- Thursday, 21 November 2024
About
While en-plein-air painting came into its own with the art of the Impressionists in the 19th century, the tradition of making images of landscapes outside is one that can be traced back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Indeed, Karel van Mander, in 1604, encouraged artists to go to the countryside: ‘There we will look at many views, all of which will help us to create a landscape…’
Inspired by our exhibition, ‘Discover Constable and the Hay Wain’, alongside your tutor, Aliki Braine, the course will trace the historical practice of making landscape paintings out of doors, starting with its development in the late 16th century to Impressionism, and explore the relationship artists have had with the landscape they have depicted.
Week 1: All the world as a stage
In the first week, we will examine how landscape first became an independent subject in the 16th centuries. Images of the outdoors were initially used as a stage on which to set narrative images, manipulating space and atmospheric conditions to enhance storytelling. Looking at the works of artists such as Bellini, Patinir, Leonardo, Bruegel and Dürer we will explore how landscape was used to sustain narrative, and question what prompted artists to go out of doors in order to seek a subject.
Week 2: Escape to the country
This second session will focus on the developments of landscape painting in the 17th century, placing a particular focus on the production of the landscapes produced for the new Dutch Republic and the large personal landscapes of Peter Paul Rubens. We will explore and compare how the aesthetic conventions of landscape painting were established in this period simultaneously in Rome and in Northern Europe, while studying the works of Claude, Rubens and Ruysdael.
Week 3: Marking the spot
The final week of the course will examine how landscape painting embraced and was affected by the developments of modernity and industrialisation. We will explore how new technologies impacted and encouraged the practice of en-plein-air painting, and how artists increasingly recorded or ignored the changing face of the land in this period. With a particular focus on Constable, to coincide with the ‘Discover Constable & The Hay Wain’ exhibition, we will focus on the birth of the Romantic and Impressionistic landscapes and consider the works of Turner, Constable, Monet, Pissarro and Morisot.
Your Tutor
Aliki Braine is an artist and art historian. She studied at The Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford, The Slade School of Fine Art, London and The Courtauld Institute where she was awarded a distinction for her masters in 17th century painting. Having worked for the National Gallery’s education department for over twenty years, Aliki now regularly teaches for the Wallace Collection, Christie’s Education and The Arts Society and is an Associate Lecturer for the Camberwell College, University of the Arts London. She regularly exhibits her work internationally and has had recent exhibitions in Oxford, Paris, Vienna, Madrid and London.
Watch again
Can't make Thursday afternoons but don't want to miss out? No problem, you can watch again.
Each session is recorded and made available to you for one week.
A video of the week's lecture will be uploaded and available for you to watch via your National Gallery account by Monday afternoon. Just be sure to watch it by the following Monday lunchtime, as it will be taken down on Monday afternoons.
Format
Each session lasts for 2 hours and includes a lecture delivered by the course lecturer followed by a short break and further discussion.
Time will be allowed for questions and discussion via Q&A.
Handouts will be available via your National Gallery account on Tuesday mornings.
Optional homework is provided to help you prepare for the following week's session.
Booking information
This is an online ticketed course hosted on Zoom. Please book a ticket to access the course. Only one ticket can be booked per account.
You will be emailed an E-ticket with instructions on how to access the course via your National Gallery account. All course information including your Zoom link, weekly handouts, and recordings will be available here.
Your link will be valid for the duration of the course.
Booking after the course has started
You are welcome to join the module at any point during its three-week run. However, please note that you will only be able to see the recording from the previous session, as these are taken offline after one week.
The artist out of doors
- Thursday, 7 November 2024
- Thursday, 14 November 2024
- Thursday, 21 November 2024
Enrol
Standard: £45
Concessions: £42.75
Please book a ticket to access the event. You will receive an E-ticket with instructions on how to access your online events, films and resources via your National Gallery account.
Please note, only one ticket can be booked per account. Bookings close ten minutes before the event.
Concessions are for full-time students, jobseekers, and disabled adults.