In this special short series, we will look at the phenomenon of the 17th century Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer. Though long laid to rest, Vermeer is currently enjoying a landmark exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which sold out in a matter of days. We will consider this momentous show, the mysterious life of this Delft master, the technology available to him, and place Vermeer’s works in the context of the time.
May 31 | Why Vermeer?
In this lecture, we will consider the current sold out exhibition on view in Amsterdam, discuss the reasons behind the extraordinary popularity of this artist and look at some of the collectors drawn to his work.
June 7 | Vermeer’s World
In ‘Vermeer’s World’ we will look at Vermeer’s artistic roots and consider his early training and surprising early works. We will discuss current theories about his use of technology in the production of his canvases.
June 14 | Vermeer: Artist of his Times
In this lecture we will consider Vermeer within the context of 17th century Holland and Delft as well as the raise of genre painting in the Dutch Republic and Vermeer’s unique position in Delft.