Gianlorenzo Bernini, Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza Navona, Photo by Wolfgang Moroder
Thursdays, May 21 & 28; June 4 & 11, 2026
7:30 PM
The most glorious European art has often been born during times of tragedy and dislocation, reflecting the puzzling paradox between destruction and creativity, brutality and beauty. The 17th century is among the cruelest in European history, brutalized by constant wars, yet it produced majestic art. We shall explore this dynamic era through the lens of its greatest artists, such as Caravaggio and Velazquez.
May 21: Bernini in Roma
We begin in Rome, vortex of Catholic Europe and home of Gianlorenzo Bernini, a sculptor-architect who fashioned our dream images of Rome, along with embellishments to St. Peter's Basilica. Bernini work adds to the paradox of the age: he was so pious he attended mass every morning, yet he sculpted one of the most shocking works in all European art.
May 28: Rubens in the North
While Bernini’s genius was realized in marble, Peter Paul Rubens’ artistry with brush and pigment was unmatched. Following an exploration of Rubens’ greatest works, we will turn to the artistic force and tragic life of Caravaggio.
June 4: Caravaggio
The art of Caravaggio, accused murderer, is tough to experience— its psychological realism too gritty, too bloody—yet his impact on subsequent artists, from Rembrandt to Delacroix, is profound.
June 11: Velazquez in Spain
Called one of the premier artists of the Baroque Age, paradoxically Velazquez was not a Baroque painter. He was only artist permitted to paint the king, but his finest, most deeply felt canvases portray the poor and marginalized of society. A Spaniard in the land of the Inquisition, he rarely paints religious subjects. We will analyze his magisterial canvas, Las Meninas, to understand how radical it was.
About Linda Blair
Linda Blair has taught art history for many years, beginning on the East Coast, including as a docent at The Cloisters, and in San Diego at UCSD Osher Institute and the Athenaeum. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Mills College and a master’s from the University of San Diego.
Tickets: $60/80
The lecture will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for this event. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.
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