CLARTAH019 - A Tale of Two Cities: The Art, Culture and History of London and Paris

Art historian Leo Costello, Ph.D., explores the interwoven histories of two metropolises, London and Paris, through the lens of their respective art histories. We compare the artistic developments of the two cities in the 18th century, considering how their national identities and governments influenced artists and art movements. We also follow the momentous changes wrought by the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars in both countries, as they influenced movements such as neoclassicism and Romanticism. We then chart the emergence of realism in the 19th century, leading to Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Finally, we move into the 20th century, seeing how technology and urbanism informed the innovations of artists in both cities, before the devastating effects of World War I. Join us for this lively exploration of the art, culture and history of London and Paris from the 18th to the 20th centuries.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Reversals of Fortune: The 17th Century
• The Rococo and the Kit-Kat Club: The 18th Century
• You Say You Want a Revolution? David and the Politics of Art
• War and Peace: The Napoleonic Years
• Impressionism and the City
• Victorians and Symbolists
• Art and the Great War in London and Paris

CO-SPONSOR: Department of Art History, Rice University