French Art summer courses in Paris

Program Overview

This three-week summer program in Paris immerses students in the history of French art and its markets. Through visits to galleries, museums, and exhibitions, students explore masterpieces and learn about their historical and contemporary buying and selling practices. The program also examines the roles of dealers, auction houses, and collectors in the Paris art market.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This three-week summer program at IESA in Paris teaches students about the history of French art and its markets. Students will learn about the great masterpieces of art directly in the galleries, museums, and exhibitions of Paris. They will also learn how these works were bought and sold historically and go to dealers, auction houses, and even the open markets of Paris to see the art market in action today. This course will open students’ eyes and understanding of art in one of Europe’s greatest and most beautiful cities.

Outline:

• The Ancien Regime – Louis XIV & The Art / French art in the 18th Century: Visits to the Louvre and the Jacquemart-André Museum (a 19th century evocation of the ancient regime)
• The Arts of the 19th Century – The Age of the Romantics / Realism & the reform of Art: Visits to the Musée Delacroix and Musée d’Orsay
• Paris & the Beginnings of Modern Art – The Impressionists & their Successors / The Beginning of the Modern: Visits to the Musée Marmottan and Centre Pompidou
• Modern and Contemporary Movements – Paris between the Wars / Contemporary Paris: Visits to Centre Pompidou, Musée d'art Moderne and la Defense.
• The Dealer - The Salon and the End of the Salon Monopoly / The Rise of the Dealer from the 19th to 21st Century: Visits to the Musée Carnavelet; walking tour of 19th century gallerist shops; contemporary dealers on the left bank
• The Rise of the Auction House – The Salon and the End of the Salon Monopoly / The Role of the Auction House and Other Modes of Commerce in the Current-Day Paris Art & Antiques Market: Visits to Hotel Drouot and the Paris Flea Market