Florence wasn’t just a city of painters - it was an incubator where banking, political intrigue, and artistic genius collided to ignite the Renaissance. Explore the human stories and bitter rivalries behind Florence’s iconic art and landmarks. From Brunelleschi’s engineering marvel, il Duomo, and the legendary clash between Leonardo and Michelangelo, to the Medici family’s use of art as political propaganda, discover how the intersection of art, science, and engineering changed the way we see the world.

While famous for a few paintings like the Mona Lisa, Leonardo's hundreds of pages of drawings and notes on anatomy, mechanics, and art were the true centers of his creative life. Explore these masterful sketches and writings, which offer a unique approach to understanding the mysteries they hold, giving you a glimpse into Leonardo's extraordinary personality and way of thinking and seeing the world.

The art world is shaped by bold creators who dare to shatter the status quo. From the dawn of the Renaissance to the cutting edge of contemporary art, discover the fascinating "how's" and "why's" behind revolutionary works by artists who refused to play by the rules - including Cimabue, Frida Kahlo, and Yayoi Kusama.

From terrifying warnings whispered by sailors to the iconic green emblem on your morning coffee cup, mermaids have swum through the human imagination for millennia. Trace their evolution from ancient omens of death into powerful symbols of identity, transformation, and our complex relationship with nature. Dive into art, literature, mythology, and song to examine how mermaids are used to explore hidden worlds, magical realism, and the tension between society and the wild.

NEW Artists of all disciplines have long sought and found inspiration in Italy: its diverse landscapes, its varied and culture-rich urban centers, or simply its unsurpassed artistic heritage. In the visual arts alone, J.M.W. Turner, Édouard Manet, El Greco, Gustav Klimt, and Salvador Dali represent a few of the rich constellation of non-Italian artists inspired by Italy over the centuries. Explore their work. Light refreshments provided.

NEW Let's write about art! Whether we are engaging with photos, paintings, sculptures, or more, the practice of ekphrasis invites deep observation, reflection, and inquiry. Explore a multi-sensory approach to writing that will ground your work in the concrete while also offering a springboard for meditating upon and investigating our relationship to art, to ourselves, and to the world.

NEW Begin on northside Haverford with houses around Montgomery Avenue and near the Merion Cricket Club featuring the work of leading Philadelphia architects for families like the Griscoms, Simpsons, Cassatts, Thayers and Booths. Move to the southside highlighting Victorian houses around Haverford College and then those from the 1910s-30s near Merion Golf Club for families including the Barnes, Yarnalls, Lloyds, Leas, and Coates.

If you expect art to look real, discover how illusionistic techniques have historically reshaped our perceptions. Our interactive discussion will explore how artists use naturalism and trompe-l’oeil techniques not to just mimic life but to transform it. From Constable’s atmospheric landscapes and Caravaggio’s dramatic shadows to the vibrant colors and hyperrealism of Audrey Flack, see how creators across the ages have constantly redefined “the real” world.