Johannes Vermeer – Master of Light
A Study Day at Barnsley House: Sunday 28th May 2023
Painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-75) is best known for capturing life between middle-class walls during the Dutch Golden Age. Specialising in domestic interior scenes, his work is synonymous with a distinctive sense of quiescence, whereby time has somehow been suspended or frozen. Born in Delft, Vermeer fathered 15 children and lived a sedentary life, completing approximately 30 works only during his lifetime. His modest celebrity gave way to obscurity after his death, and he left his family in a certain amount of debt, only to realise considerable fame more contemporaneously. Undisputed master of light, Vermeer’s veristic technique enjoyed a renaissance in the nineteenth century; most notably through his use of limpid atmospheres, possibly aided by the camera lucida. His stage-like mise en scène have been the inspiration behind several books, musical compositions and film scripts. Vermeer worked slowly and with great care, and frequently used very expensive pigments. This sets the tone for how the viewer should experience his meticulous images. We should pore over the haptic surface details with care and attention, drinking in the sparkling array of colours and textures accordingly.
Date of study day: Sunday 28th May 2023
Topic for study day: Johannes Vermeer
Venue: Barnsley House GL7 5EE
Arrival time: 9:30am
Room: Cinema and Conference Rooms
Coffee and pastries: 9:30-10am
Session 1: 10-11:15am
Break: 11:15-11:45am
Session 2: 11:45-1pm
Lunch: 1-2pm
Session 3: 2-3:30pm
Close of play: 3:30pm
Cost of day: £70 per person
All coffee, tea, pastries, water and lunch will be covered in the cost of the study day. All attendees will be provided with a study day booklet to take away with them.
Please express your interest in attending the study day by responding to nick@arcadia.education