"Between Heaven and Hell... The Purgatory Museum"

Course•By Liz Lev

"Diamonds and Ivories and Relics...Oh My! The Jewels of St Peter's Treasury Museum"

Course•By Liz Lev

"From Devotion to Display: The Story of the Vatican Pinacoteca"

This one-hour illustrated lecture explores the history of the Vatican Pinacoteca, the painting gallery of the Vatican Museums, and the journey of sacred masterpieces from altar to museum wall. Originally created for chapels, monasteries, and private prayer, these works were never intended as “museum pieces.” Yet over centuries, popes recognized the need to preserve, protect, and thoughtfully display them. We will examine how political upheavals, including Napoleonic confiscations, restoration efforts, and evolving ideas about public access to art, shaped the collection. Featuring artists such as Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Caravaggio, the lecture reveals how devotion, preservation, and papal vision transformed a treasury of faith into one of the world’s most important painting galleries.

Course•By Sara Magister

"From Luxury to Legacy: The Decorative Arts of the Vatican Museums"

Far from being mere expressions of opulence, objects such as textiles, metalwork, furniture, ceramics, and precious furnishings offer profound insight into how beauty, power, and faith were intertwined across centuries of papal history. Created for private apartments, ceremonial spaces, and diplomatic exchange, these works reflect the refined tastes of their patrons as well as the theological and political messages they were meant to convey. Through selected examples, the lecture traces the transformation of these objects from symbols of luxury and status into enduring elements of a shared cultural legacy.

Course•By Francesca Barberini

"From Masterpieces to Margins: The Lesser-Known Works of the Vatican Pinacoteca"

The Vatican Pinacoteca is celebrated for its universally admired masterpieces — from Raphael’s luminous altarpieces to Caravaggio’s dramatic intensity. Yet beyond these iconic works lies a remarkable constellation of paintings that rarely receive sustained attention, though they are no less revealing in their historical, theological, and artistic significance. This one-hour lecture invites participants to step away from the spotlight and into the margins of the collection. Moving beyond the celebrated canvases by Raphael and Caravaggio, we will explore overlooked devotional panels, transitional works, workshop productions, and paintings by artists whose names may be less familiar but whose contributions shaped the visual language of the Church.

Course•By The Masters'

“From Popes to Masterpieces: How the Vatican Museums Came to Be”

What began as a single statue in a papal courtyard became one of the greatest museum complexes in the world. In this engaging one-hour lecture, we trace the fascinating and often surprising history of the Vatican Museums—from the personal passions of Renaissance popes to the vast, carefully curated collections that now welcome millions of visitors each year. Far from being conceived as a “museum” in the modern sense, the Vatican collections grew organically, shaped by theology, politics, humanism, rivalry, devotion, and a profound belief in the power of beauty to teach, persuade, and inspire.

Course•By Liz Lev

"From Tombs to Treasures: The Story of the Gregorian Etruscan Museum"

This one-hour web lecture traces the extraordinary journey that transformed ancient Etruscan tombs into one of the most important archaeological collections in the world: the Gregorian Etruscan Museum of the Vatican. Born in the nineteenth century, at a moment of intense excavation and scholarly curiosity, the museum reflects a new desire to understand Italy’s pre-Roman past through systematic study and public display.

Course•By Livia Galante

"The Caravaggio Exhibition in Rome"

The Caravaggio exhibition at Palazzo Barberini in Rome offers a compelling journey into the dramatic world of the Italian Baroque master. Set within the elegant and historically rich walls of the palace, the exhibition showcases a curated selection of Caravaggio’s most iconic works, emphasizing his revolutionary use of light and shadow. Visitors are invited to explore the intense realism and emotional depth that characterize his paintings, which have left an indelible mark on the history of art. This carefully arranged display not only highlights the technical brilliance of Caravaggio but also provides insight into the cultural and historical context of his era, making it a significant event for art enthusiasts and scholars alike.

Course•By Sara Magister

"The Doria Pamphilj collection and the family who created it"

Course•By Ludovica Schmidt

"The Farnese: Plots, Power, and Amazing Collections"

Live Lesson March 31st at 3pm ET

Course•By Livia Galante

"The Galleria Borghese - Birth of the Baroque"

Live Lecture February 24 at 3pm ET

Course•By Liz Lev

"The Museum of Rome - Braschi Palace"

Course•By Francesca Barberini

"The Never Ending Story! - The Intriguing Origins of the Vatican Museums"

Past Live Lecture February 3d at 3pm ET

Course•By Sara Magister

"Wunderkammer - the Cabinets of curiosity"

Live Lecture March 3d at 3pm ET

Course•By Francesca Barberini