A two-hour masterclass exploring Vermeer, his paintings and the turbulent world in which he lived.

Vermeer’s paintings are instantly recognisable, yet the artist himself remains remarkably elusive. His quiet interiors, luminous light and enigmatic figures have captivated viewers for centuries, while his life and the world in which he lived remain far less familiar.

In this special two-hour masterclass, leading art historian, critic and broadcaster Andrew Graham-Dixon will take us inside Vermeer’s paintings and the turbulent seventeenth-century world in which they were made.

Through close looking at some of Vermeer’s greatest works, Andrew will explore their composition, symbolism, technique and extraordinary atmosphere, drawing attention to details easily missed and showing us how to look at his paintings afresh.

Andrew’s groundbreaking Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found, named The Times Art Book of the Year 2025, radically challenged our understanding of the enigmatic Dutch painter. Drawing on years of historical research, Andrew will reveal the discoveries that led him to a new understanding of Vermeer’s life and work, situating the paintings within the religious, political and social upheavals of his time.

Since the book’s original publication, a further trove of previously unknown documents has been unearthed. Andrew will also explore this new evidence, which forms the basis of a revelatory new afterword to the paperback edition and adds further dimensions to his interpretation of Vermeer’s life and work.

Every ticket includes a copy of the new paperback edition of Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found.

The masterclass will take place in the historic Great Hall at Barts North Wing.

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About Unmissable Masterclasses

Go deeper with the people who know their subjects best. Led by experts in their fields, Unmissable Masterclasses are in-person sessions designed to deepen your understanding, challenge what you thought you knew and leave you with new knowledge, ideas and ways of seeing.

Description supplied by the event organiser.