Announcing the Mirabilia Summer Session: Great Museum Collections of Italy!
Join me and several of my brilliant art historian friends for a new online lecture series, starting July 17!
June has flown by, and here we are, already bounding into July! I hope that you are all having a lovely start to the summer. I am just wrapping up a wonderfully rich and rewarding month of Italian travels, which is now concluding beautifully with a Parisian cherry on top – that is, on top of a dollop of Chantilly cream!
The reason for the visit was to see the special exhibition of the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry at the Chateau de Chantilly – I went this morning and I still can’t believe that I saw the manuscript with my own eyes (this is the first and likely the last time that this extremely precious 15th-century illuminated manuscript will ever be on view to the public during our lifetimes). There is so much that I want to say, but for now I am still absorbing everything that I experienced today – more to come soon in a future post!
But for now, I have an exciting announcement to share with you all: I’ve just opened enrollment for the 2025 summer session over at Mirabilia Art Adventures, titled Great Museum Collections of Italy!
Amidst my many visits over the last several weeks to museums, palazzi, and churches across northern Italy with clients, with friends, and on my own, I was also working hard behind the scenes on putting together my first-ever guest lecture series, which will be focused on exploring a selection of extraordinary museum collections across Italy, from Venice all the way to Palermo!
Four of my brilliant friends, colleagues, and fellow art historians will be joining us and offering virtual explorations of museum collections that are related to their own fields of expertise. I will offer two visits myself as well!
All lectures will take the form of an hour-long slideshow with extensive commentary, and will be followed by about 15 minutes of Q&A. The live sessions will take place on Zoom, and will be recorded, so if you aren’t available at the scheduled time, you will be able to watch the replay.
The abbreviated program is below (click here to go to the website for the full description of each session, as well as to learn more about the speakers!):
Week 1: July 17, 1PM: Venice, Gallerie dell’Accademia
Explore a selection of the most exquisite medieval and Renaissance works housed in the Accademia Galleries in Venice with Sophia D’Addio, PhD
Week 2: July 24, 1PM: Siena, Complesso Museale
Discover not just one museum, but the many locations united under the umbrella of the Museum Complex of Siena with Maggie Bell, PhD
Week 3: July 31, *7PM* (note evening time for this session): Palermo, Museo di Palazzo Abatellis & Palazzo della Zisa
Delight in extraordinary works of medieval Islamic art and craftsmanship at the Palazzo Abatellis and Palazzo della Zisa in Palermo with Kristen Streahle, PhD
Week 4: August 7, 1PM: Florence, Museo Nazionale del Bargello
Wander the hallowed sculpture halls of the Bargello Museum in Florence, filled with works by Donatello, Michelangelo, and more with Rachel Boyd, PhD
Week 5: August 14, 1PM: Turin, Galleria Sabauda
Uncover the artistic treasures of the Renaissance and Baroque periods within the Savoy Gallery in Turin with Sophia D’Addio, PhD
Week 6: August 21, 1PM: Venice, Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Explore the fascinating history of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and examine a selection of its works of modern art with Alison Boyd, PhD
I would love to have you join us for this 6-week series, which will offer a rich and varied exploration of collections spanning the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods – and even all the way to the modern period as well in our final session!
Special limited-time offer: If you have any friends or family members who would like to enroll as well, I am currently running a special offer of 40% off for double signups – just respond to this email (or send a separate one to info@mirabiliaartadventures.com!) and I will send you the instructions and the discount code that both of you can use to receive 40% off when enrolling!
If you have any questions about the series, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to seeing you (virtually!) in Venice, Siena, Palermo, Florence, and Turin very soon!
Sophia
I can't wait to hear about the exhibition at the Chateau de Chantilly. I really wanted to go see the famed Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry but alas it just wasn't to be. I'm sure it was an amazing experience.