Over the course of six weeks we will explore the lives and works of some of the Western tradition’s greatest artists spanning the late Medieval period to the current day. At a time when our cultural depth is seriously deprived and the many images of celebrity and role models presented to us are emptied of any real value or meaning, turning our attention towards great artists can offer a different perception of what it means to be human in relationship with the world, and offer substance, inspiration and true enrichment. There is something both magical and human about going behind the scenes of a work of art to its creator, someone who invites us to see the world in completely new ways. Discovering the character and way of life of an artist gives us a fascinating insight into the psychological and spiritual aspects of human nature as a whole, and goes some way in helping us better understand ourselves. As Dr James Hillman wrote;
‘Extraordinary people excite; they guide; they warn; standing as they do, in the corridors of imagination – statues of greatness, personifications of marvel and sorrow – they help us carry what comes to us as it came to them. They give our lives an imaginary dimension.’
We will consider the extent to which the voice and heart of the artist can be sensed through their work while we explore each artist’s creative journey, passions, failures and successes. Throughout the course, we will question how aspects of of an artist’s life and work can inspire us, and lift the human soul and spirit, enabling us to see and know in ways we may not have thought possible. As well as honouring the historical and biographical, this course will also look at the lives of the artists through the broader lens of depth psychology found in the work of Dr James Hillman, the alchemy of different psychological states and the archetype of ‘artist’ through the work of Dr C. G. Jung, culture and psychology through the work of Professor Louis Sass, and the philosophical and psychological through the work of psychiatrist Dr Iain McGilchrist, among others.
Course Outline:
Week One – Giotto, Brunelleschi, Donatello
Week Two – Botticelli, Raphael, Michelangelo
Week Three – Titian, Giorgione, Vermeer
Week Four – Rembrandt, Van Gogh
Week Five – Monet, Picasso
Week Six – Frida Kahlo, David Hockney
