The Vatican and the World of Italian Art

The story of Italian art is one of the greatest in human history: a golden thread that begins in ancient Rome, weaves through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and continues to shape the way we understand beauty, faith, and the world today. From the Etruscans’ vivid tomb frescoes to Michelangelo’s masterpieces on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to Caravaggio’s dramatic use of light and shadow, Italian artists have created works that define Western Civilization.

But how did a small peninsula become the cradle of so much creative genius? And what forces—faith, power, trade, and plague—drove this extraordinary history? The Vatican and the World of Italian Art takes you on an unforgettable journey across two millennia, tracing the development of Western art from its roots in antiquity to the heights of the Baroque Era. Taught by acclaimed art historian Jean-Pierre Isbouts, Faculty Emeritus at Fielding Graduate University, these 14 riveting episodes combine expert commentary and vivid storytelling to reveal how Italian art, preserved in the Vatican Museums and beyond, became the foundation of our shared cultural heritage.

You’ll travel with Dr. Isbouts to Florence, Siena, Venice, Ravenna, and beyond, following in the footsteps of artists like Giotto, Leonardo, Raphael, Bernini, Titian, and many more. You’ll study some of the most incredible paintings and sculptures ever produced and marvel at the architecture of the Hagia Sophia and St. Peter’s Basilica. Along the way, you’ll hear from prominent curators in Italy and France, as well as the words of Giorgio Vasari, the Renaissance biographer who first chronicled these masters.