The Exe Decorative and Fine Arts Society

Our lecturer	The lecture
Shirley Turner has an honours degree in Modern history from St.Hilda's College Oxford and a diploma from theStudy Centre in the History of Fine and Decorative Arts which she took on her return from 20 years living in Paris, Brussels and The Hague. It was in Holland that she began her interest in the history and culture of that country and was delighted to find that London houses great collections of Dutch paintings. Shirley has been a NADFAS lecturer since 1994, has run HER own history of art & appreciation courses and lectured to many societies both in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and was until last year a course lecturer at the Victoria and Albert museum.	The Art of Johannes Vermeer, Master of Delft Shirley Turner's lecture on Johannes Vermeer, Master of Delft tells the true story which inspired the film of the Girl with the pearl earring. Looking at the famous "View of Delft" by Vermeer she gives a a brief account of the city and its importance as an art centre. She describes the life of the artist, his methods and his favourite subjects and compares his paintings with those of his contemporaries such as Peter de Hooch, Fabritius, Metsu, Maes, Steen and others. She tries to explain why he died bankrupt and though known locally was completely ignored in the 18th century and only began to be recognised as a great painter in the 19th century. His first solo exhibition was in Rotterdam in 1933.
For more information . . . .
Click these links: View the Wikipedia entry for Johannes Vermeer Visit the Essential Vermeer website