Long considered marginal to mainstream art history, nuns in fact had a profound impact on medieval culture. They were considered as models of piety and commanded considerable prestige. The visual culture of the convent exhibits particular characteristics and can be celebrated for its imaginative accomplishment. This course will focus on nuns as patrons or producers of art.  We shall examine whether nuns had a particular affinity for the visual by considering the architecture of the convent, themes and subjects that appealed to enclosed women, and the art that served and was produced by nuns as visionaries, makers and scholars.