ART AND LIFE IN RENAISSANCE FLORENCE

And why it continues to matter

Food in literature in Key West

DESTINATION
Florence, Italy

DATES
October 30 – November 6, 2011 (7 nights)

READINGS
Short selections from
Dante, The Divine Comedy (Sinclair)
Machiavelli, The Prince
Leonardo da Vinci Notebooks
Kenneth Clark, Leonardo
J.H. Plumb, The Italian Renaissance

Description/Itinerary
Come to the source for a full immersion experience of the Italian Renaissance.

This rebirth of learning based on classical sources occurred throughout most of Europe at the turn of the fifteenth century but emerged first in the Italian city of Florence and continued to be more pervasive there than anywhere else. The city's economy and its writers, painters, architects, and philosophers all made Florence a model of Renaissance culture.

During our time together, we will engage with the artistic masterpieces of Michelangelo, Leonardo, Botticelli, Fra Angelico and others in an unhurried and attentive way. Sean Forester, a classical painter who resides in Florence, will help us better understand how composition, style and symbolism of individual paintings work on our emotions. We will even have an opportunity to try fresco painting in a private workshop. We’ll meander through the streets of Florence where Dante’s poetry is carved on buildings and the concept of the dome first emerged in the form of Brunelleschi’s architectural marvel that tops the cathedral of Florence. We will retire to a formal Renaissance garden to try to discover why Machiavelli is considered the father of modern political science. And we will probe the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance Man -- an incomparable master of "both" worlds of art and science.

This trip offers the opportunity to step into one of the most creative and determinative eras of human history. Together, we will learn about the forces that brought about the Renaissance, to relish, first hand, many of its consummate creations and to appreciate its continuing legacy.

And, of course, we will enjoy the fresh and incredibly varied regional cuisine and stellar wines with typical Tuscan gusto and convivialitá.

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QUOTE
"The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo."
-Mark Twain

Leader
Sean Forester is Director of Art History and Humanities at the Florence Academy of Art. He studied at the St. John’s College Great Books Program and has led seminars for Classical Pursuits both in Toronto and in Florence. As a figurative painter, he is interested in how Renaissance art and thought can speak to us today.

Accommodation
Hotel Silla, a charming 17th century villa on the left bank of the Arno. Combines a quiet but convenient location, with excellent service, and a lovely rooftop terrace with a view.

Fees
€2295 per person
Single supplement: €300

Fee includes readings, accommodation, two meals a day, discussions, walking tours, talks, excursions, and admissions.

This trip has been priced in Euro. Once you’ve made a reservation, we will invoice you in CAN$ at the prevailing exchange rate.