Splendour of Paris
Online course
5 lessons
NL
N.B. This course is taught in Dutch.
In this Splendour of Paris course, you will visit Paris from the comfort of your armchair, in five lessons: one of Europe's cultural highlights. Yvonne Hilgenkamp takes you through almost twenty centuries of art, culture and architecture of Paris. We start with the Roman origins of Paris; followed by a first great heyday in the Middle Ages, including Notre Dame and the Sainte Chapelle. Through the Renaissance, we move to the Baroque with the Louvre and Versailles. Then we step into the nineteenth century; with the construction of the grand boulevards and showpiece buildings like the Arc de Triomphe and the Opéra; moreover, we see the rise of train stations, market halls and the famous Paris galleries and department stores. Paris is then also the centre of the artistic avant-garde; we look at the studios of artists like Delacroix, Rodin and Picasso. This is also the era of the World's Fairs, which bequeathed the city the Eiffel Tower, the Petit and Grand Palais, and the Paris Métro. In the 20th century, we see the modern houses of Le Corbusier and contemporaries such as Mallet-Stevens and Charreau; from the 1970s, the Grands Travaux of Mitterand with e.g. the Grande Arche de la Défense and Pei's Pyramid at the Louvre. In contemporary times, we look at e.g. the spectacular Fondation Louis Vuitton by Frank Gehry and La Bourse by Tadao Ando. By the end, you will know this city, its highlights as well as its hidden gems, inside and out.
How does that work online?
You take this course online from your own computer or tablet. All you need is a good internet connection and sound. Teacher and images will appear on your screen automatically. If you cannot attend 'live', you can watch the replay afterwards. Registration is therefore still possible until after lesson 2 of the course.
Free trial lesson
Want to know if this course and taking it online is for you? You can take lesson 1 of this course as a free trial lesson without any obligations. You can register for this free trial lesson directly via the button below.
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Frequently asked questions
What will I learn on a ‘Pracht en Praal’ course?
KLU’s ‘Splendour and Grandeur’ courses are excellent preparation for your own visit to a city or region. In each course, a KLU lecturer will guide you through the highlights and the hidden gems. From architecture to painting, you’ll gain a better understanding of what you’re looking at and where to look. But each course can certainly also be taken purely for enjoyment, without any travel plans. By the end, you’ll see the city through a completely different lens, whether you’re there in person or reminiscing at home.
Do I need any prior knowledge to take a course?
No, most of KLU’s online art history courses do not require any prior knowledge. The courses are aimed at adults with an interest in art and culture, even if they have not previously studied art history.
Are you completely new to art history? Then this course is Introduction to Art History a good place to start. You can also filter our course listings to show introductory courses.
What exactly does the taster lesson involve?
The taster lesson is the first lesson of a course, which you can attend free of charge and with no obligation. There’s no commitment: afterwards, you decide for yourself whether you want to take the full course. You can sign up for a taster lesson via the course page. An overview of all current taster lessons can be found at klu.nl/free-trial-lesson.
Please feel free to sign up for a free taster lesson, so you can see for yourself whether the course is right for you.
If I’m unable to attend one or more of the class dates, can I still take the course?
Yes, even if you miss a live class, you can watch it later on KLU. After each class, you’ll automatically receive a link to the recording by email. It’s valid for 14 days, and you can watch the recording as often as you like.
Many students even complete the entire course via the recording. This means you don’t need to be present on the scheduled date to complete the full course.
What do students appreciate about KLU?
What students particularly appreciate about KLU is the combination of academic rigour and accessibility. Complex subject matter is made easy to understand whilst maintaining a high standard – that is what sets KLU apart.
The tutors are consistently praised: they are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and have an engaging teaching style. Course participants say that after every lesson they look forward to the next one and that the knowledge really sticks.
KLU also scores highly in practical terms: the ease of catching up on sessions, the handouts and the good value for money are frequently mentioned. And perhaps the best side effect of all: after the course, participants pack their bags, visit museums with a fresh perspective or discover a new hobby.
You can read all the reviews at klu.nl/reviews.
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