Art History Lecture Series with Anne Connor: Great Collections
Great Collections / Tuesday Lecture Series
$10 per lecture
Tuesdays 10am–11:30am
Lectures are available either online or in person.
Special Offer: 7 Lectures for $60 (a $70 value)
See below to sign up for individual lectures.
Sep. 16 Icons of St. Catherine's Monastery: A Sacred Legacy
The icon collection at St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai is one of the oldest and most significant in the world, dating back to the 6th century. Preserved in the remote desert for centuries, these icons represent a unique continuity of Byzantine art and early Christian tradition, offering profound insights into religious devotion, artistic innovation, and cultural exchange across the Eastern Mediterranean.
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Oct. 21 The Collections of Isabella d’Este and the Gonzagas
Isabella d’Este and the Gonzaga family of Mantua were among the most influential art patrons of the Renaissance. Their collections included classical antiquities, paintings, sculptures, and rare manuscripts, reflecting refined taste and humanist ideals. Isabella’s studiolo and the Gonzagas’ court became cultural hubs, attracting artists like Mantegna and Leonardo da Vinci, and setting a standard for aristocratic collecting in early modern Europe.
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Nov. 18 The Spanish Monarchs' Art Collection: Power and Patronage
The art collection of the Spanish monarchs from the Habsburg to the Bourbon dynasties reflects centuries of imperial power and cultural ambition. Encompassing masterpieces by artists such as Titian, Velázquez, and Goya, the collection was shaped by royal patronage and diplomatic exchange.
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Jan. 20 The Wallace Collection: A Treasure of European Art
The Wallace Collection, housed in London’s Hertford House, is a remarkable assemblage of fine and decorative arts amassed by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace. Featuring masterpieces of Old Master works, 18th-century French painting, arms and armor, and decorative objects, the collection offers a rich glimpse into aristocratic taste and collecting in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Feb. 17 Pavel Tretyakov: Founder of Russia’s National Art Legacy
Pavel Tretyakov was a visionary Russian collector who assembled one of the most important collections of Russian art. Committed to supporting national talent, he acquired works by leading 19th-century artists such as Repin, Kramskoi, and Vasnetsov. His collection formed the foundation of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, a major institution dedicated to Russian visual culture and artistic identity.
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Mar. 17 The Art Collection of Suleyman the Magnificent
Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent was a great patron of the arts, whose court fostered a flourishing of Ottoman artistic achievement. His collection and commissions included exquisite textiles, ceramics, calligraphy, metalwork, and architectural projects, reflecting both Islamic traditions and cross-cultural influences. Under his reign, the Ottoman Empire became a center of artistic innovation and imperial grandeur.
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Apr. 21 The Frick Collection: A Gilded Age Legacy of Art
Assembled by industrialist Henry Clay Frick in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Frick Collection in New York features masterpieces of European painting, sculpture, and decorative arts. The collection is housed in an elegant mansion setting that reflects the refined taste and cultural aspirations of America’s Gilded Age elite.
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