Most of the 11 courses offered in the Coastal Senior College Winter Term will begin during the week of Jan. 13. One class, “Piero Della Francesca: Painter, Mathematician, Philosopher, A True Renaissance Man,” will begin later than most of the CSC Winter Term Courses, meeting from Feb. 4 -18. This course will be presented in a unique format, three one-hour long slide lectures followed by questions and discussion, meeting in person at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Newcastle.

Instructor Brett Donham says, “Piero lived in central Italy from 1415 to 1492, at the height of the Italian Renaissance. He was born in the small Tuscan town of Borgo San Sepolcro, but early in his career obtained commissions from noble houses, including the Papacy, and most frequently from Federico da Montefeltro, the Duke of Urbino. Under the sponsorship of the Duke, Piero studied mathematics and became one of the discoverers, or inventors, of linear perspective and introduced it into pictorial representation.”

The slide lectures will focus on his art, with emphasis on his fresco Resurrection, found in the town hall of San Sepolcro. This fresco is described by Aldous Huxley as “the best picture in the world.”

Instructor Brett Donham has retired after practicing architecture for 50 years. He has been to Italy 16 times and has seen most of the paintings the class will study, including visiting the Resurrection three times.

Class discussions in Coastal Senior College courses offer an opportunity to learn and connect with other students who are primarily 50 and older.

Two other classes in the winter courses series will be offered in person in Damariscotta and Newcastle. Eight other classes will be offered online. Information about Coastal Senior College and the Winter Courses, membership and registration, can be found at coastalseniorcollege.org.