Armchair Art Tours
Single-Talk Topics
NEW! Books, Bites, and Business: Medieval Bologna, a University City
Take a virtual tour of Bologna in the 13th-15th centuries. You'll join a fictional law student, a copyist on the side, as he does a day’s worth of classes and errands, in a journey brought to life through art preserved in medieval books, registers, and statutes, as well as though ancient maps and photos of surviving medieval buildings.
NEW! Formerly Famous: Armand Guillaumin, the Last of the French Impressionists
Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927) often had to wait for vacation to pursue his art—he worked in a shop for ladies' lingerie, then was a clerk for a railroad, and the husband of a schoolteacher—but that changed after he won a big lottery prize in 1891. Guillaumin mostly painted landscapes, but, with friends including the Impressionists Edgar Degas and Claude Monet and the Postimpressionists Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh, his style evolved considerably, though always remaining vigorous, with vivid colors.
NEW! The Original Animal Whisperer: Francis of Assisi
Through art, especially medieval art, this talk will sketch out the life of Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone of Assisi (1181/2–1226), nicknamed Francis, whose followers are still among us today. A major focus will be his connection to nature, especially animals. As Francis’ friend St. Bonaventure wrote of him, “With a feeling of unusual love, he tasted that fountain of all goodness in all creatures, as in so many rivulets.” In fact, the Catholic Church has declared him the patron saint of ecology, and on his feast day, October 4th, many Christian churches invite pets to their services to receive his blessing.
NEW! The Trojan War in Art
From a 2,600-year-old Etruscan chariot to Athenian vases, Roman mosaics, 19th-century sculpture, and 20th-century paintings, the Trojan War (ca. 1200 B.C.) inspired them all. The story of the ten-year war was often told through memorized verse that was eventually written down, as was true for Homer’s epic poem the Iliad, but art helped keep it alive within the human mind.
COMING IN THE SUMMER! Impressionism with a Woman's Touch: Mary Cassatt
This talk features the American Impressionist Mary Stevenson Cassatt (1844-1926), whose oil paintings, pastels, and prints focused primarily on women and children engaged in everyday life. Born into comfortable circumstances, at the age of 16 Mary went to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts for two years of study. Most of her artistic life, however, was spent in France, where she joined the French Impressionists--especially Edgar Degas--in style and friendship, and acted as an adviser to American art collectors. Local museums, such as the Newark Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will help tell her story.
A Virtual Stroll Through the Met's Egyptian Art
An introduction to the Egyptian galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that will guide you from the banks of the Nile to tombs and temples. Discover Ancient Egyptian culture and art through sculpture, jewelry, mummies, and actual Egyptian buildings.
The Ancient Near East at the Met
Through works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, explore 7,500 years of the cultural history of peoples scattered over three million square miles of the Middle East, from present-day Turkey to India, and from Armenia to Saudi Arabia. The core civilization was in Mesopotamia, the fertile land between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers of modern-day Iraq. From this land came stories of Noah's Great Flood, the unconquerable hero Gilgamesh, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, as well as the modern discovery of the Great Death Pit of Ur, filled with 74 bodies and priceless artifacts.
A Virtual Tour of Ancient Greek Art at the Met
By examining vases, sculpture, and metalwork, all from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we will amble in an ancient Athenian cemetery; cheer Athens' equivalent of a Fourth of July parade, the Panathenaia; have a drink at a men's party; and join the Greek army. We'll even jump into a 2,500-year-old chariot to learn about the Trojan War.
Take a virtual tour of Bologna in the 13th-15th centuries. You'll join a fictional law student, a copyist on the side, as he does a day’s worth of classes and errands, in a journey brought to life through art preserved in medieval books, registers, and statutes, as well as though ancient maps and photos of surviving medieval buildings.
NEW! Formerly Famous: Armand Guillaumin, the Last of the French Impressionists
Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927) often had to wait for vacation to pursue his art—he worked in a shop for ladies' lingerie, then was a clerk for a railroad, and the husband of a schoolteacher—but that changed after he won a big lottery prize in 1891. Guillaumin mostly painted landscapes, but, with friends including the Impressionists Edgar Degas and Claude Monet and the Postimpressionists Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh, his style evolved considerably, though always remaining vigorous, with vivid colors.
NEW! The Original Animal Whisperer: Francis of Assisi
Through art, especially medieval art, this talk will sketch out the life of Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone of Assisi (1181/2–1226), nicknamed Francis, whose followers are still among us today. A major focus will be his connection to nature, especially animals. As Francis’ friend St. Bonaventure wrote of him, “With a feeling of unusual love, he tasted that fountain of all goodness in all creatures, as in so many rivulets.” In fact, the Catholic Church has declared him the patron saint of ecology, and on his feast day, October 4th, many Christian churches invite pets to their services to receive his blessing.
NEW! The Trojan War in Art
From a 2,600-year-old Etruscan chariot to Athenian vases, Roman mosaics, 19th-century sculpture, and 20th-century paintings, the Trojan War (ca. 1200 B.C.) inspired them all. The story of the ten-year war was often told through memorized verse that was eventually written down, as was true for Homer’s epic poem the Iliad, but art helped keep it alive within the human mind.
COMING IN THE SUMMER! Impressionism with a Woman's Touch: Mary Cassatt
This talk features the American Impressionist Mary Stevenson Cassatt (1844-1926), whose oil paintings, pastels, and prints focused primarily on women and children engaged in everyday life. Born into comfortable circumstances, at the age of 16 Mary went to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts for two years of study. Most of her artistic life, however, was spent in France, where she joined the French Impressionists--especially Edgar Degas--in style and friendship, and acted as an adviser to American art collectors. Local museums, such as the Newark Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will help tell her story.
A Virtual Stroll Through the Met's Egyptian Art
An introduction to the Egyptian galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that will guide you from the banks of the Nile to tombs and temples. Discover Ancient Egyptian culture and art through sculpture, jewelry, mummies, and actual Egyptian buildings.
The Ancient Near East at the Met
Through works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, explore 7,500 years of the cultural history of peoples scattered over three million square miles of the Middle East, from present-day Turkey to India, and from Armenia to Saudi Arabia. The core civilization was in Mesopotamia, the fertile land between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers of modern-day Iraq. From this land came stories of Noah's Great Flood, the unconquerable hero Gilgamesh, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, as well as the modern discovery of the Great Death Pit of Ur, filled with 74 bodies and priceless artifacts.
A Virtual Tour of Ancient Greek Art at the Met
By examining vases, sculpture, and metalwork, all from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we will amble in an ancient Athenian cemetery; cheer Athens' equivalent of a Fourth of July parade, the Panathenaia; have a drink at a men's party; and join the Greek army. We'll even jump into a 2,500-year-old chariot to learn about the Trojan War.
Ancient Olympics
Every two years, the modern Olympic Games are held, but now you can learn about their ancient predecessor through art. We’ll explore how this religious event in southern
Greece—occurring each fourth summer—developed over the course of 1,100 years and
see how it helped unite Greek speakers scattered across the ancient world.
Sailing the Seas Centuries Ago
Did you know that the crew on ancient merchant ships was usually naked? Are you aware
that the oarsmen on a Roman warship were paid by the day and that none were slaves? Immerse yourself in the history and lore of triremes, penteconters, and their descendants, from Egypt to Rome.
The Grandeur That Was Rome—in New Jersey
Meet the ancient Romans through the art of our region, including the Montclair Art Museum, the Newark Museum, the Princeton University Art Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Eternal Spring
Wander vicariously through fabulous private gardens, from ancient to medieval, brought to you by the art and plants of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its branch museum, The Cloisters.
Party Hearty in the Middle Ages
Despite the Middle Ages still sometimes being called the Dark Ages, people in that era often enjoyed good times, especially at
the table. Through art and archaeology, learn about medieval foods and their preparation—including a recipe for roast unicorn!--
in late-medieval feasts, as well as the rules and ceremonies under which these sumptuous foods were presented and the types of entertainment guests might enjoy. Works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Met's Cloisters Museum will highlight
this talk.
BFFs: Man and Dog in the Classical World
From Cerberus, of ancient Greek mythology, to the war dogs, pets, and hunting dogs of Rome, look at examples in Classical art to learn how man’s best friend preserved the life, limb, and property of his master.
BFFs: Man and Dog in the Middle Ages
Through medieval artworks, some from The Met's Cloisters Museum, discover how different breeds of dog remained humankind’s constant companion in the castle, in the fields, and on the hunt, even if that hunt was a fantasy of chasing a unicorn.
Every two years, the modern Olympic Games are held, but now you can learn about their ancient predecessor through art. We’ll explore how this religious event in southern
Greece—occurring each fourth summer—developed over the course of 1,100 years and
see how it helped unite Greek speakers scattered across the ancient world.
Sailing the Seas Centuries Ago
Did you know that the crew on ancient merchant ships was usually naked? Are you aware
that the oarsmen on a Roman warship were paid by the day and that none were slaves? Immerse yourself in the history and lore of triremes, penteconters, and their descendants, from Egypt to Rome.
The Grandeur That Was Rome—in New Jersey
Meet the ancient Romans through the art of our region, including the Montclair Art Museum, the Newark Museum, the Princeton University Art Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Eternal Spring
Wander vicariously through fabulous private gardens, from ancient to medieval, brought to you by the art and plants of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its branch museum, The Cloisters.
Party Hearty in the Middle Ages
Despite the Middle Ages still sometimes being called the Dark Ages, people in that era often enjoyed good times, especially at
the table. Through art and archaeology, learn about medieval foods and their preparation—including a recipe for roast unicorn!--
in late-medieval feasts, as well as the rules and ceremonies under which these sumptuous foods were presented and the types of entertainment guests might enjoy. Works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Met's Cloisters Museum will highlight
this talk.
BFFs: Man and Dog in the Classical World
From Cerberus, of ancient Greek mythology, to the war dogs, pets, and hunting dogs of Rome, look at examples in Classical art to learn how man’s best friend preserved the life, limb, and property of his master.
BFFs: Man and Dog in the Middle Ages
Through medieval artworks, some from The Met's Cloisters Museum, discover how different breeds of dog remained humankind’s constant companion in the castle, in the fields, and on the hunt, even if that hunt was a fantasy of chasing a unicorn.
From Saint to Santa
Through centuries of art, much of it now in East Coast museums, we'll explore how a Greek bishop in Roman-era Turkey evolved into one of Christianity’s most beloved saints. Then in American artwork we'll see Nicholas change again—into Santa Claus.
The World of Saint Patrick
Through art and archaeology, we’ll examine the ancient Britain that was ruled by Rome for centuries. Then we’ll consider the autobiography and letters of its most famous citizen, a Roman Briton named Patrick, and the fifth-century Ireland he knew as a slave and as a missionary.
Through centuries of art, much of it now in East Coast museums, we'll explore how a Greek bishop in Roman-era Turkey evolved into one of Christianity’s most beloved saints. Then in American artwork we'll see Nicholas change again—into Santa Claus.
The World of Saint Patrick
Through art and archaeology, we’ll examine the ancient Britain that was ruled by Rome for centuries. Then we’ll consider the autobiography and letters of its most famous citizen, a Roman Briton named Patrick, and the fifth-century Ireland he knew as a slave and as a missionary.
Knight Life
See how medieval knights practiced for war and enjoyed the pleasures of peace through masterpieces of the Morgan Library and Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Cloisters.
To Arms! . . . and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Through works of art in the Arms and Armor galleries, learn how the European knight in shining armor evolved and declined, then revel in the exotic beauty of arms and armor from the Middle and Far East, including Japan’s samurai.
Medieval Dress-up
We'll look at medieval clothing styles, from unmentionables to the gaudiest outer layers, to get a sense of everyday fashion for the élite of Europe. Medieval paintings, sculptures, and tapestries will guide our eye, especially examples from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
West Africa on the East Coast
Explore the cultural richness of West Africa through centuries of art from within its 18 present-day countries, especially the Benin kingdom of the Edo people. Included will be sculpture, metalwork, and ivories from local museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Princeton University Art Museum.
Paintings of the Dutch Golden Age: A Virtual Tour
Get to know the part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the pictures of Frans Hals, Jan Vermeer, and Rembrandt van Rijn. Along the way, learn about the Dutch Republic in its 17th-century heyday, including its tulip mania and the Flying Dutchman!
Meet George Washington
Declared at his death “First in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen,” George Washington is revered even today. Through works of art often drawn from area museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Delaware Art Museum, and the New-York Historical Society, see how artists of his own time portrayed him for posterity and how that posterity, through its own crop of artists, commemorated his deeds.
Meet Ben Franklin
Through art and artifacts drawn from East Coast museums and collections, meet the author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat you know as Benjamin Franklin!
See how medieval knights practiced for war and enjoyed the pleasures of peace through masterpieces of the Morgan Library and Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Cloisters.
To Arms! . . . and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Through works of art in the Arms and Armor galleries, learn how the European knight in shining armor evolved and declined, then revel in the exotic beauty of arms and armor from the Middle and Far East, including Japan’s samurai.
Medieval Dress-up
We'll look at medieval clothing styles, from unmentionables to the gaudiest outer layers, to get a sense of everyday fashion for the élite of Europe. Medieval paintings, sculptures, and tapestries will guide our eye, especially examples from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
West Africa on the East Coast
Explore the cultural richness of West Africa through centuries of art from within its 18 present-day countries, especially the Benin kingdom of the Edo people. Included will be sculpture, metalwork, and ivories from local museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Princeton University Art Museum.
Paintings of the Dutch Golden Age: A Virtual Tour
Get to know the part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the pictures of Frans Hals, Jan Vermeer, and Rembrandt van Rijn. Along the way, learn about the Dutch Republic in its 17th-century heyday, including its tulip mania and the Flying Dutchman!
Meet George Washington
Declared at his death “First in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen,” George Washington is revered even today. Through works of art often drawn from area museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Delaware Art Museum, and the New-York Historical Society, see how artists of his own time portrayed him for posterity and how that posterity, through its own crop of artists, commemorated his deeds.
Meet Ben Franklin
Through art and artifacts drawn from East Coast museums and collections, meet the author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat you know as Benjamin Franklin!
Making a Good Impressionism
How do you paint a passing perception? See how French Impressionist painters, rebelling against an ancient state system of art training, created new images quivering with energy and emotion through art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Princeton University Art Museum and the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers.
How do you paint a passing perception? See how French Impressionist painters, rebelling against an ancient state system of art training, created new images quivering with energy and emotion through art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Princeton University Art Museum and the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers.
Go, van Gogh!
Pastor and painter Vincent van Gogh produced more than 2,000 works of art in his last decade. Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo that, as he had no children, he viewed his paintings as his progeny. Let’s explore some of these “brilliant children,” especially those at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Pastor and painter Vincent van Gogh produced more than 2,000 works of art in his last decade. Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo that, as he had no children, he viewed his paintings as his progeny. Let’s explore some of these “brilliant children,” especially those at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
A Younger Matisse at the Met, 1869-1906
Henri Emile Benoît Matisse (1869-1954)—an artist famed for his original use of line and color—compared his artistic development to the growth of a seed. We will trace that growth in Matisse’s life story until his mid-thirties, especially through art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He came by the seed metaphor naturally—he was the son of a seed merchant in a northern French town. Despite his conservative appearance and work habits, Matisse continually absorbed new ideas as he worked in Paris and the South of France. We will leave Matisse as he becomes a leader of the “Fauves” or “Wild Beasts” (whose paintings expressed emotion in wild, often dissonant colors), wishing him well for the remaining 48 years of his career.
Impressionism with a Woman's Touch: Berthe Morisot
This talk explores the French Impressionist whose art often focused on modern young women and children—Berthe Marie Pauline Morisot (1841-1895), who captured her world in a vibrant, changing style. We’ll follow her life’s arc and learn that she and Édouard Manet enjoyed each other’s company so much—he also enjoyed her looks—that Berthe became his favorite model. He seems to have urged her to marry his adoring brother, Eugène, who then devoted his life to furthering Morisot's career, making the pair a fixture in late-19th-century Parisian culture. Local museums, such as the Newark Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will help tell her story in art.
“A Little Like the Good Lord”: Impressionist Camille Pissarro
Born to a French Jewish family on the Danish Caribbean island of St. Thomas, Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) never became a French citizen, though he enthusiastically captured 19th-century France in art, especially its countryside and the peasants who toiled in it. This talk will explore how Camille constantly experimented in style, subject matter, and media as he produced 2,000 oil paintings and thousands of drawings, watercolors, and prints. A beloved teacher and comrade, Camille traded influences with his fellow-artists, such as Paul Gauguin and Paul Cézanne, and watched four of his seven children become artists themselves.
Young Picasso at the Met
Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a prodigy in art, from childhood to the advanced age of 91. See Picasso’s changing world and learn his life story from his teenage years through his twenties by way of his pictures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art—including his Blue and Rose Periods.
Henri Emile Benoît Matisse (1869-1954)—an artist famed for his original use of line and color—compared his artistic development to the growth of a seed. We will trace that growth in Matisse’s life story until his mid-thirties, especially through art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He came by the seed metaphor naturally—he was the son of a seed merchant in a northern French town. Despite his conservative appearance and work habits, Matisse continually absorbed new ideas as he worked in Paris and the South of France. We will leave Matisse as he becomes a leader of the “Fauves” or “Wild Beasts” (whose paintings expressed emotion in wild, often dissonant colors), wishing him well for the remaining 48 years of his career.
Impressionism with a Woman's Touch: Berthe Morisot
This talk explores the French Impressionist whose art often focused on modern young women and children—Berthe Marie Pauline Morisot (1841-1895), who captured her world in a vibrant, changing style. We’ll follow her life’s arc and learn that she and Édouard Manet enjoyed each other’s company so much—he also enjoyed her looks—that Berthe became his favorite model. He seems to have urged her to marry his adoring brother, Eugène, who then devoted his life to furthering Morisot's career, making the pair a fixture in late-19th-century Parisian culture. Local museums, such as the Newark Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will help tell her story in art.
“A Little Like the Good Lord”: Impressionist Camille Pissarro
Born to a French Jewish family on the Danish Caribbean island of St. Thomas, Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) never became a French citizen, though he enthusiastically captured 19th-century France in art, especially its countryside and the peasants who toiled in it. This talk will explore how Camille constantly experimented in style, subject matter, and media as he produced 2,000 oil paintings and thousands of drawings, watercolors, and prints. A beloved teacher and comrade, Camille traded influences with his fellow-artists, such as Paul Gauguin and Paul Cézanne, and watched four of his seven children become artists themselves.
Young Picasso at the Met
Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a prodigy in art, from childhood to the advanced age of 91. See Picasso’s changing world and learn his life story from his teenage years through his twenties by way of his pictures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art—including his Blue and Rose Periods.
Series
Choose from two to four talks.
Ancient Rome
- Facing Rome Through Portraits
- Dining Out in Ancient Rome
- Roman Parks and Recreation
- Ancient Entertainment
Impressionism
The Postimpressionists
- A New French Revolution: Impressionism in Art
- Impressionists on the Water
- Impressionism and Paris
- Impressionism and America
- Impressionism with a Woman's Touch: Berthe Morisot
- Impressionism with a Woman's Touch: Mary Cassatt
- "A Little Like the Good Lord": Camille Pissaro
- Formerly Famous: Armand Guillaumin, the Last of the French Impressionists
The Postimpressionists
- Que Seurat, Seurat
- Go, van Gogh!
- The Savage: Paul Gauguin
- Son of the South: Paul Cézanne
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The Cloisters Museum and Gardens
Virtual Tours
History Through Art
Man's Best Friend
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Please note: Except for a screen, Mike can provide all the equipment for a talk (i.e., digital projector, music stand/podium, small portable sound system). If no screen is available, a large white wall can be used.
MIKE CAN ALSO DO HIS TALKS ON ZOOM!