John Singleton Copley, Watson and the Shark, 1778. Oil on canvas. Gift of Mrs. George von Lengerke Meyer.
John Singleton Copley, Watson and the Shark, 1778. Oil on canvas. Gift of Mrs. George von Lengerke Meyer.
Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Tickets (Member / Nonmember)
In-Person $28 / $35
Livestream $16 / $20
Following an overview of the full “Art in the Age of Napoleon” course, witness the Enlightenment’s optimistic embrace of reason, reform, and virtue giving way to pessimism and mysticism in the wake of the French Revolution. Among the artists discussed are Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, Jacques-Louis David, Joseph Wright of Derby, Henry Fuseli, William Blake, and Francisco Goya.
Jonathan Ribner, director of graduate admissions; History of Art and Architecture, associate professor; Late-18th- and 19th-Century European Art, Boston University
Course Packages
Purchase a ticket package for the full four-session “Art in the Age of Napoleon” course. Please note that this option is not available after the date of the first session.
Assistive listening system
Wheelchair accessible
Ticket Information
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
Livestream Tickets
The livestream ticket gives access to a live feed of the event that can be watched remotely. You must be logged in to the account used to purchase the ticket in order to access the livestream on the Video Content page. Please log in at least 5 minutes before the start of the event to test your connection.
Livestream ticket holders must watch the event live; there is no recording of the event available for viewing at a later time.
Bag Checks
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags, all liquids including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions are made for medical or religious needs. All bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” must be checked in the Coat Room upon entry. Read our full bag check policy.