Noah Hanna

Art collectors and patrons play a major but often unseen role in art history and cultural heritage. From monarchs, and the Church, to anthropologists, and the mega donors of today’s museums, art has long been defined and supported through expansive webs of patronage and private funding. Making use of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collections and Chicago’s vibrant art community, this course explores the roots of art collecting and patronage, as well as investigating larger issues within collecting, including its ethical implications, repatriation, finance, psychology, and the personal perspectives of artists, curators, dealers, and collectors. Through lectures, discussions, and visits to museums, galleries, collections, studios, and EXPO Chicago: Chicago’s International Exposition of Modern and Contemporary Art, this course will provide not only an introduction to art history’s relationship to patronage but consider its present and future role, as well as how we can all be patrons of the arts.