Studying in Florence means being surrounded by art everywhere you go, not just in museums, but in churches, streets, and buildings you pass everyday. This semester, I took a Renaissance art history course and an oil painting class, and together they completely changed the way I experienced the city.
My Renaissance art history class quickly became the highlight of my week. Every Wednesday, instead of sitting in a classroom, we traveled to a different museum or church to study paintings, sculptures, and architecture in person. There was something surreal about learning about works we were quite literally standing in front of, rather than just seeing them on a slide. It made the material feel more real and meaningful, and it pushed me to think more deeply about the cultural and historical context behind each piece.
What made the class even more impactful was my professor, Emily. She challenged us to think beyond memorization and really engage with the art, asking questions that didn’t always have one clear answer and encouraging us to interpret things in our own way. I went into the class nervous about exams and the amount of content, but she made it feel manageable and showed us that we were capable of more than we thought. It ended up being one of the most enriching academic experiences I’ve had.
At the same time, my oil painting class pushed me in a completely different way. I’ve never considered myself an artist, so going into the class was a little intimidating. But through step-by-step guidance, my professor helped us create paintings that I honestly didn’t think I was capable of making. The process itself was slow and sometimes frustrating, it requires a lot of patience and attention to detail, but it also forced me to slow down and be present in a way I’m not used to.
By the end of the semester, I realized that painting wasn’t just about the final product, but about the process. It became a space where I could focus, be mindful, and step away from the fast pace of everything else. Being able to bring my paintings home feels really meaningful, they’re not just assignments, but physical reminders of my time here and what I learned.
Together, these two classes changed how I think about learning. Whether it was analyzing a sculpture in a church or working through layers of paint on a canvas, I was constantly engaging in a more hands-on, reflective way. I know going back to the Pitt will feel different, especially without these kinds of experiences built into my classes. But I also feel really grateful to have had the opportunity to learn in this way. These classes didn’t just teach me about art, they changed how I approach learning, and patience, and that’s something I’ll carry with me long after this semester ends.