The story of Italian art is one of the greatest in human history: a golden thread that begins in ancient Rome, weaves through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and continues to shape the way we understand beauty, faith, and the world today. From the Etruscans’ vivid tomb frescoes to Michelangelo’s masterpieces on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to Caravaggio’s dramatic use of light and shadow, how did a small peninsula become the cradle of so much creative genius? And what forces—faith, power, trade, and plague—drove this extraordinary history?
The Vatican and the World of Italian Art takes you on an unforgettable journey across two millennia, tracing the development of Western art from its roots in antiquity to the heights of the Baroque Era. Taught by acclaimed art historian Jean-Pierre Isbouts, Faculty Emeritus at Fielding Graduate University, these 14 riveting episodes combine expert commentary, on-location footage, and vivid storytelling to reveal how Italian art, preserved in the Vatican Museums and beyond, became the foundation of our shared cultural heritage.
Your exploration takes you to Florence, Siena, Venice, and beyond, studying artists like Giotto, Leonardo, Raphael, Bernini, and Titian, as well as architectural wonders such as Brunelleschi’s dome, the Hagia Sophia, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Whether you are standing before the Laocoön, reflecting on The Last Supper, or tracing the golden light of Venice, The Vatican and the World of Italian Art offers a grand tour of human achievement.
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