Stories of art Module 3: Baroque and the Dutch golden age 1600-1700

The fifth session of this six week course at the National Gallery focusing on the art of the 17th century.

This week looked at the Low Countries focusing on Rembrandt and Vermeer with a lecture by the course leader, Lucrezia Walker. As ever this was fascinating but I was left wanting more. She gave a good guide to the pictures but I would have liked to know more about the possible symbolic meanings in the Vermeer's.

The second fascinating lecture was by Betsy Wieseman, Curator of Dutch and Flemish paintings 1600-1800 at the National Gallery who had curated the recent Vermeer and Women exhibition in Cambridge and the Vermeer and music which starts in 3 weeks at the National Gallery. She talked about what had sparked the exhibitions and how she had organised them and chosen works. I can’t wait for the National Gallery one and already have tickets for day  one!

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