Four Northern Renaissance Masters: Bosch, Dürer, Holbein and Bruegel

The Northern Renaissance was a cultural and artistic movement that took place in Europe north of Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries.

On this course we will explore the careers and work of Bosch, Dürer, Holbein and Bruegel who were four key artists of the Northern Renaissance.

Taking each artist in turn, we will examine their style, subject matter and background, covering the highly detailed religious narratives of Bosch; the range of media in the work of Dürer; the patronage and portraiture of Holbein; and Bruegel's depictions of everyday life.  

The work of each artist will be examined in detail and considered in the context of the politics and culture of northern Europe and artistic developments elsewhere in Europe.  

Any essential or recommended reading will be shared by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run.  

You will require access to a device with an internet connection. 

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to:

• Understand the work and careers of four northern renaissance artists;
• Assess the cultural and political context of the northern renaissance;
• Critically examine works of art from the period covered by the course. 

This course is for those with little or no experience of art or art history.  

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.  

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s accessible and inclusive learning policy. 

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support. 

The course is suitable for those with no prior experience of university study. This course will be most valuable to students who have some experience in writing fiction, for example, two or three short stories or chapters.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented orally and in writing. You must be comfortable studying in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the study materials.

Please note that the course booking deadline is 8 days before the course start date.