This holiday season, you can give the unique gift of an arts education—and at a fraction of the usual cost. While the bargain bonanzas of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales have passed, Christie’s Education is offering its beloved art-world-centered classes at steeply discounted prices through Wednesday, December 8.

Ever wanted to get a grasp on the art market? Now’s the chance to learn the basics. Interested in learning the intricacies of watches and what makes them valuable? The clock is quite literally ticking. Most of Christie’s classes are included in the offer at a jaw-dropping 40 percent discount. 

Taught virtually, Christie’s Education online courses are a flexible way to learn the ins and outs of the art world, wherever you happen to be. Taught by respected industry leaders, the classes have theory-meets-real-world practicality. The selected courses are pre-recorded to be streamed at the student’s convenience, with interactive modules and online tutors available.

“Occasionally we offer our certificate courses in a self-directed format for a very limited time. This gives students access to all of the course’s pre-recorded online lectures instantly, a wonderful opportunity for those who might not have the time to follow a course across its full six weeks,” said Ted Sandling, program director for Christie’s Education. 

These classes can be the gift you give yourself, too, as a way to jumpstart a New Year’s resolution. Below, we’ve picked out three classes we’d be delighted to be gifted. 

The Great Masters of European Art 1350-1850

Courtesy of Christie’s Education.

If you don’t know your Donatello from your Delacroix, this might just be the class for you. In six sweeping classes, the course will guide you across the 500 years in European history, spanning from the dawn of the Renaissance through British Romanticism. The class will look closely at the defining masterpieces of these centuries as a way of understanding larger stylistic trends and developments. Beyond the purely art historical, the class also features anecdotes and insights from experts working with works of these eras, including Christie’s global president Jussi Pylkkänen, who discusses the experience of auctioneering Salvator Mundi, as well TEFAF C.E.O. Patrick van Maris, and many others.

History of Jewelry Design: 1880 to Now

Courtesy of Christie’s Education.

This course is for the admirers of the finer, shinier, glittering objects of history—and who want to learn the precise language for describing jewels from the Belle Epoque era through to the most contemporary creations. In this class, jewelry historian Vanessa Cron will introduce students to the whirlwind patrons, jewelers, and fashions from which European jewelry houses emerged. The course includes interviews with jewelers from Chaumet, Mellerio dits Meller, Cartier, Boucheron, Van Cleef and Arpels, Wallace Chan, François Curiel on JAR, and Viren Bhagat. By the end of the class, students will be able to identify periods from the Belle Epoque to today and be able to identify the major fashions and jewelry houses.

Art Law

Courtesy of Christie’s Education.

Art Law can be a mysterious and murky world. This class aims to give students a detailed introduction to basic tenants that govern the world of art law. The course covers art-world legal practice and legislation in the major international regions: the U.S., Europe, the U.K., and China. Legal academic Vittoria Mastrandrea has written the class, and for those looking to enter the art world professionally, understanding the legal realities is essential. The class centers around cases and studies that affect art world transactions, as well as offering detailed procedural considerations to ensure learnings can be put to practical use.