Are you ready to embark on your own Journey of Discovery? The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) invites you to explore the vibrant world of the Renaissance in its exciting new yearlong programme of talks and events, Renaissance: Journeys of Discovery.
From Brunelleschi and Michelangelo to Da Vinci, Martin Luther, Cervantes, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Machiavelli, and Hieronymus Bosch, this series delves into the cultural legacy of a movement that continues to shape our world today. Whether you’re fascinated by art, literature, science, philosophy, theatre, cartography, or exploration, BRLSI’s new talks series promises to enlighten and inspire.
So, what was the Renaissance? This European cultural movement marked the gradual transition from the Middle Ages to modernity, ushering in a period of profound artistic, political, and scientific change. Florence emerged as the epicentre of this ‘rebirth’, where figures such as Giorgio Vasari, in his Lives of the Artists, first coined the idea of rinascita – rebirth.
Spanning 1350 to 1650, BRLSI’s series explores not only the Italian Renaissance but also multiple ‘Renaissances’ across Europe and beyond. Talks will investigate the period’s global scope, political ramifications, humanism at home and expansionist ambitions abroad, all while highlighting the era’s remarkable scientific and technological advancements.
For a head start, you can explore BRLSI’s new Renaissance timeline on its Renaissance: Journeys of Discovery webpage.
The series opens with a keynote by Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones, who will examine whether the Renaissance truly represents a seismic shift in European thought in Earthly Delights, and guide audiences through a visual journey across 16th- and 17th-century Europe, from Da Vinci and Bosch to Bruegel, Titian, Michelangelo and Dürer.
Later in the programme, New Statesman philosopher John Gray will explore the period’s philosophical impacts, alongside over thirty first-rate speakers examining an era of discovery that still resonates today.
All talks are accessible in-person or via livestream, making it easy to join BRLSI from wherever you are.
Dates & Details:
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When: September 2025 – June 2026
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Format: Live at 16 Queen Square, Bath, or livestreamed
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Tickets: £4 for BRLSI Members, £8 for Non-Members
Discover more and book your tickets at BRLSI Renaissance Talks
