+44 (0)20 7942 2000

Tuesday 17 September 2024
12.00 – 13.00
V&A Academy Online
Free Online course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
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Thinking about an online course? Join V&A Academy lecturer Clare Ford-Wille for a captivating, free lecture with live Q&A and delve into the symbolism and different ways trees have been depicted in art, all while you get to know the V&A Academy online platform…

Enjoy learning how throughout the history of European art, the tree has been of great importance in so many ways. It can act as a punctuation mark within a composition, or to create perspective, to draw attention to a figure, to offer a framework for a narrative or to give meaning to the subject of the painting or sculpture. Dead or broken trees can symbolise death, a living tree in contrast can indicate everlasting life or the Resurrection, and in the Garden of Eden the Tree of Knowledge is crucial to the Fall of Adam and Eve. The lecture will explore the many ways in which artists and sculptors, such as Piero della Francesca, Titian, Caspar David Friedrich or Constable, use trees in their work.

This event is part of Art History Festival 2024 organised by the Association for Art History.

You will receive a link to join the live lecture 24 hours before the event, as well as a link to the recording afterwards, so that you can enjoy watching the lecture on demand for a limited time.

Fancy another taster? Click here to sign up to our V&A Academy newsletter today to receive our Autumn term taster lecture recording The Art of the Sublime directly into your inbox to enjoy on-demand now.

V&A Academy Lecturer
Clare Ford-Wille

Clare Ford-Wille is an independent lecturer. Previously associate lecturer at Birkbeck College, University of London she also lectures regularly for many other institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Wallace Collection, the National Trust, and the NACF as well as leading groups to places of art historical in Europe.

Speakers are excellent and instil a love and understanding of the objects they cover. For me it's brilliant that this is available online as I couldn't get to London! V&A Academy Online Student

With V&A Academy Online, you can learn from our world-class experts wherever, whenever. Choose between our 12 week courses with more than 40 hours or 6 week courses with 12 hours of lectures. Download lecture notes, copies of the presentations and more from our secure Microsoft Teams learning environment. Meet enthusiastic peers. With lecture recordings and study materials available up to 12 or 6 weeks after the course ends, you can learn at your own pace, so you'll never miss a minute.

Join Clare Ford-Wille this autumn term on the following courses:
Online - Introduction to Art History led by Dr Jacqueline Cockburn, starting Tuesday 25 September 2024, available on-demand until Tuesday 4 March 2025
Online - Arts of 18th Century Europe: Rococo to Romanticism led by Dr Kathy McLauchlan, starting Thursday 26 September 2024, available on-demand until Thursday 6 March 2025
Onsite at V&A South Kensington - Age of Michelangelo: Arts of 16th Century Europe led by Dr Kathy McLauchlan, weekly class in-person starting Wednesday 25 September 2024.

V&A Academy Online. A learning environment you can trust.

V&A Academy Online courses are built using the latest Microsoft software. Tune in to expert lectures live, or catch up later on demand. Download handouts and presentations. Join the discussion in a secure, closed class environment, wherever you are.