About the lecture:
Johannes Vermeer is today regarded as one of the most important painters in art history. Yet this wasn’t always the case. He was almost entirely forgotten for two centuries after his death, only to be rediscovered in the 1800s. Vermeer’s works are revered for their rich colours, quality of light and for his ability to imbue everyday scenes with poetry and serenity. Vermeer is a highly mysterious figure; there is very little historical documentation about him in existence, and less than 40 works are attributed to him. As a result, he’s earned the nickname ‘the Sphinx of Delft’. This talk explores his masterpieces, including ‘The Girl with the Pearl Earring’.

About the lecturer:
Stella Lyons shares her passionate interest in art history, drawing three dimensional human stories and experiences from the two-dimensional canvas. Stella is a freelance Art History lecturer, speaker and writer accredited with The Arts Society. She has lectured across the UK, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Malaysia. Stella gained her BA in the History of Art from the University of Bristol, and her MA in History of Art from the University of Warwick. She spent a year studying Renaissance art in Italy at the British Institute of Florence, and three months studying Venetian art in Venice. In addition, she attended drawing classes at the prestigious Charles H. Cecil studios in Florence, a private atelier that follows a curriculum based on the leading ateliers of nineteenth century Paris. Stella is also a part-time lecturer for the University of South Wales. In addition to her lecturing work, Stella works as an artist’s model for the internationally renowned figurative artist, Harry Holland.