One of the biggest revelations in my early art history journey was discovering the online lectures of Dr Lillian Céspedes González.
Lillian is a Spanish powerhouse of a tour guide, with a PhD in History from the University of Winchester, and through her company, Travelusion Tours, she offers affordable online lectures covering everything from art history and mythology, to European palaces and wider historical themes. She also runs virtual and in-person tours, but it’s the lectures that hooked me.
She’s built an international community of regulars who log into Zoom, sometimes several evenings a week, ready to absorb an astonishing amount of expertly researched information in just an hour. She has an ability to make complete beginners feel welcome while still giving seasoned history nerds plenty to grapple with. We delight in her accidental catchphrases that she probably doesn’t even realise she has.
The range of subjects is incredible. I’ve joined lectures on Italian Renaissance masters, individual artists and paintings, the palaces of Europe, and Norse mythology (her specialist subject). Whatever the topic, Lillian pitches it perfectly, happily answering questions in depth and always suggesting books or further reading for anyone who wants to dig deeper.
When I first discovered her, the lectures were completely free. They’re now run through a paid or membership model, but I still think they’re some of the best value art and history education I’ve come across. We stream them on the TV at home, and if we can’t make it, we can access a recording.
More than anything, what comes across is Lillian’s genuine passion. She wants history and art history to be accessible, engaging and enjoyable, and that enthusiasm is completely infectious. If you’re looking for a way into art history beyond the usual museum visits or hefty textbooks, I can’t recommend her highly enough.
You can find her on: