The Art of the Sacred in Byzantium and Italy: Materiality and Meaning
On campus
Media, Materials, and Methods
Helen Dejean
Tuesday 9 – Friday 12 September 2025
£595
NB The fee for this course is higher as it includes considerable technical preparation work by the lecturer, along with course materials, and requires the presence of a course assistant.
Course description
Unique to The Courtauld, this four-day course combines the history of medieval art with art practice to explore the many fascinating aspects of the meaning and materiality in late Byzantine and Italian panel painting in the period from around 1260 to the 1380s. We begin by identifying key iconographies originating in the Christian church of the Eastern Mediterranean Byzantine sphere, analysing their form, function and meaning. We then explore the intersections and exchanges evident in Byzantine and Italian painting of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, considering how and why certain imagery was adopted and adapted to meet changing devotional and patronal demands in both spheres.
Focusing on examples of late medieval panel paintings in The Courtauld and National Galleries, we unpack the ‘making and meaning’ of specific works through close object study and discussion. Using technical art history sources, we directly engage with the materials and processes used by late medieval painters to evaluate the sensory and spiritual impact of these works on the beholder.
An integral part of the course will be three practical sessions, providing a unique opportunity to engage directly with traditional panel-painting materials. With step-by-step guidance, participants can try out a simplified method of fourteenth century gilding and painting in egg tempera, based on Cennini’s Il Libro dell ‘Arte. This ‘workshop’ element is entirely optional and assumes no previous experience. High quality materials and equipment are provided, enabling participants to create their own mini panel-painting.
How to book
To book your chosen course(s) please use the book now button below and you will be taken to our booking system where you can book and pay (Visa / Mastercard / GooglePay / ApplePay).
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(Please note: this ticketing login is not the same as your Short Courses VLE login if you have one).
Please note that in the EU new VAT rules for online courses are coming into effect. This means that from 1 January 2025 we will be required to charge EU participants their local VAT rate. VAT-inclusive prices for EU students will be displayed at check-out.
If you have any questions please email us at short.courses@courtauld.ac.uk
Lecturer's biography
Helen Dejean is an iconographer and independent art history lecturer specialising in Byzantine and Late Medieval Italian art. She holds a Master’s degree in each of these subjects from The Courtauld, where she is currently a Teaching Assistant and PhD research student. For many years, Helen has taught within the adult education sector, combining art history with traditional medieval panel painting practice. She now lectures in the history of art at City Lit and for The Arts Society throughout the UK. Additionally, Helen has designed and delivered interdisciplinary residential courses in the UK, Italy and Sinai. As a practising artist and icon painter, she has undertaken numerous commissions for churches and cathedrals worldwide.