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Live and Recorded talks relating to:

the Baroque

  • 'Our Lord in the Attic; museum'- best kept secret in Amsterdam!
    'Our Lord in the Attic; museum'- best kept secret in Amsterdam!
    'Our Lord in the Attic; museum'- best kept secret in Amsterdam!
    Overlooked by many tourists, this little gem gives so much when it comes to the history of Amsterdam. Located in the oldest part of the city, it shows how houses on the canals were built, how different religions lived and practised, and so much more!
  • The Night Watch: Analyzing Rembrandt's Greatest Masterpiece
    The Night Watch: Analyzing Rembrandt's Greatest Masterpiece
    The Night Watch: Analyzing Rembrandt's Greatest Masterpiece
    How does this single painting capture all that is great about Rembrandt van Rijn as an artist, as well as the Dutch Golden Age? It's time to uncover one of the world's most innovative and daring paintings like never before.
  • Brueghel & Rubens, a fruitful partnership
    Brueghel & Rubens, a fruitful partnership
    Brueghel & Rubens, a fruitful partnership
    In the early 17th century 2 admired painters teamed up to profit from each other’s strengths: Peter Paul Rubens painted the figures while Jan Brueghel the Elder the landscapes, flora and fauna. Join Mariska as she discusses this fruitful partnership.
  • Symbolism in Art: a series of 6 lectures
    Symbolism in Art: a series of 6 lectures
    Multiple Dates
    Symbolism in Art: a series of 6 lectures
    As the centuries passed, a language of symbols developed so that artists could tell stories with deeper and more intricate emphasis. This lecture will cover some of the symbols no longer recognised by modern audiences, making it easier to interpret works of art.
  • FREE: Timken Museum of Art, San Diego, enjoying the Dutch Masters
    FREE: Timken Museum of Art, San Diego, enjoying the Dutch Masters
    FREE: Timken Museum of Art, San Diego, enjoying the Dutch Masters
    In partnership with the Timken Museum in San Diego, USA, Mariska will be delivering a talk on Dutch art from the 17th century using 6 extra ordinary examples from the museum's wonderful collection of European Old Masters. Please find more details below
  • Flower Power: Floral Still Life Paintings of the Dutch Golden Age
    Flower Power: Floral Still Life Paintings of the Dutch Golden Age
    Flower Power: Floral Still Life Paintings of the Dutch Golden Age
    It's time to uncover the powerful paintings and masterful artists who expertly blended botany, geography, and iconography in ways even contemporary audiences can enjoy.
  • The Marvels of Trompe l'oeil
    The Marvels of Trompe l'oeil
    The Marvels of Trompe l'oeil
    The illusionistic representation of things, deceiving our eyes, has been around since the Romans. However, over time artist got better and better at it, creating magical artificial scenes which are incredibly life like. Join Mariska for 1 hour of visual trickery and some of the most amazing scenes!
  • The Difficulty with Rembrandt
    The Difficulty with Rembrandt
    The Difficulty with Rembrandt
    For all his talent, Rembrandt is also often described as a rather unpleasant, over confident, untrustworthy man, whose fame was merely a 19th century construct so the Dutch could compete with the Belgians and their Rubens. Mariska unpicks the complexity of this artist
  • Dutch Genre Painting: the art of laughter
    Dutch Genre Painting: the art of laughter
    Dutch Genre Painting: the art of laughter
    Join us to learn more about Dutch genre paintings, their often funny and relatable content, their meaning and how to interpret, read and enjoy them!
  • A tribute to Anwerp
    A tribute to Anwerp
    A tribute to Anwerp
    Landscape art, portrait paintings showing the sitters with the objects that define them, the depiction of ordinary people as main subject and the development of genre painting. None of it would have happened without Antwerp! more info below
  • Golden Age of Amsterdam: Art & History of the Dutch Metropolis
    Golden Age of Amsterdam: Art & History of the Dutch Metropolis
    Golden Age of Amsterdam: Art & History of the Dutch Metropolis
    Join Mariska as we explore the rise of Amsterdam as an international hub of trade, finance, art, and beliefs through some of the country's most cherished paintings.
  • The Jewel in the Lost Crown
    The Jewel in the Lost Crown
    The Jewel in the Lost Crown
    Built for grandeur, receptions & court masques, Banqueting House at Whitehall Palace became central to the Stuart dynasty. Join us to discover the building’s revolutionary architecture & Baroque art, seismic events in constitutional history and how Parliament dared to kill a king! More info below
  • Amsterdam: built on slavery and colonialism
    Amsterdam: built on slavery and colonialism
    Amsterdam: built on slavery and colonialism
    How can a country known for its tolerance and freedom, where slavery was prohibited, become such an active participant in the slave trade? Time to look at what financed Amsterdam's beautiful canals and extra ordinary artistic output!
  • Frans Hals: The Golden Age is Having a Party
    Frans Hals: The Golden Age is Having a Party
    Frans Hals: The Golden Age is Having a Party
    The Frans Hals exhibition at the National Gallery, London, is a feast of life itself. Portraits of people being themselves, laughing, enjoying each other's company, children being children, sitters getting distracted while being painted and interacting with a world outside the frame. Mariska unpicks
  • Tulip Mania
    Tulip Mania
    Tulip Mania
    In this talk Mariska will get us ready for Spring in this one hour talk on the most wonderful flower still live paintings, the symbolism and economic power of flowers and the personification of Spring.
  • Love, sorrow and passion: Rubens' Women
    Love, sorrow and passion: Rubens' Women
    Love, sorrow and passion: Rubens' Women
    From his mother, to his wives, daughters, the Virgin Mary, and his many female patrons - women played an extremely important and deeply emotional role in Rubens' life. This talk will highlight them, quoting the current exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery.
  • Versailles' Glory
    Versailles' Glory
    Versailles' Glory
    The elevation of LouisXIII hunting lodge outside Paris into the Palace of Versailles -the most magnificent of palaces- was done on the back of Nicholas Fouquet, Superintent of Finances, overstepping his position. See below for more on this talk covering who &what was involved in Versailles' creation
  • The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea. A Review
    The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea. A Review
    The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea. A Review
    Winter 1672-73, 2 celebrated Dutch artists arrived in London. King Charles II offered them a studio at the Queen's House in Greenwich. Now, 350 years later, the Queen's House will once again house the Van de Veldes with an extensive exhibition. This lecture will introduce this talented artist family
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