Raphael: A Portrait

A detailed examination of The School of Athens, unveiling its rich symbolism and the subtle levels of meaning to provide viewers with a profound sense of the elaborately constructed beauty and harmony of this extraordinary masterwork by Raphael.

An in-depth conversation with Ellen Bialystok, Professor of Psychology at York University, who is a world-leading expert on the effects of bilingualism on cognitive processes across our lifespan.

An illuminating examination of Sofonisba Anguissola's iconic masterpiece as a window into the artist's full oeuvre while painting a detailed picture of Sofonisba's journey and the world she lived in to become one of the most accomplished female artists of her time. At a time when women were typically regarded as objects or madonnas to be represented in art, Sofonisba Anguissola (1532/5-1625) was something very different indeed: a highly respected painter and teacher who interacted with the likes of Michelangelo and Anthony van Dyck, and whose remarkable portraits were enthusiastically sought by many of the most powerful figures of the age. The Chess Game by Sofonisba is a remarkable group portrait of three of her sisters and a maid. It is widely considered to be one of her most compelling and innovative artworks: a painting whose many subtle levels of meaning offer a fascinating window on Sofonisba, her family, and contemporary 16th-century values.