During the 20th century more poets than ever before have written poems about particular paintings and sculptures. At their best the poets have "inhabited" the art work - some reverently, some cynically, some humorously, some majestically. The poems, drawn from Britain, North America and Europe, are, among others, by Thomas Hardy, W. B. Yeats, Wallace Stevens, Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, W. H. Auden, Rainer Maria Rilke, Jacques Prévert, Rafael Alberti, Zbigniew Herbert and Ted Hughes. The relevant paintings and sculptures extend over a wide spectrum of Western Art — from the Elgin Marbles to Piero della Francesca, from Michelangelo to Giacometti, from Turner to Picasso, Munch to Rothko. In addition to enjoying the poems and paintings you will have the opportunity to learn about the poets and painters and enjoy musical interludes connected with the works.
Course aim
Frequently poems and paintings are closely linked. You will study about 50 (20th century poems) and paintings (from all periods), each linked with one of the poems. Enjoy a journey through this rich landscape of art with musical interludes.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Appreciate more fully the dynamic link between different art forms - poems, art works and music
- Be better acquainted with 20th century poetry
- Have a deeper knowledge of a wide range of poets and painters
- Have a working knowledge of European fine art
What else do I need to know?
You can use a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer. You will need a personal email address to access the learning web site Canvas. You will be provided with illustrated handouts and other resources. - All materials will be provided
View full course information sheet
