Flemish & Dutch genius, & the Beit Gift @ Nat. Gallery Ireland

Apologies: due to unforseen circumstances, the June edition of this tour (6pm Thursday 25th June) has been cancelled. There will be other Dublin Decoded events throughout the summer from mid-July, including 6 tours of Georgian archiecture in 3 different qarters of the city. We will run the Dutch Art tour again in the autumn 2015 as a public tour, open to everyone. In the meanwhile, all Dublin Decoded tours (from the homepage of our website) ar avaible for booking as private tours, on felxible dates most afternoons. All details available on our 2 websites: arranqhenderson.com

and / or dublindecoded.com

This unique tour focuses on an in-depth discussion of just 6-9 individual paintings, from the 17th century era of Northern European painting. The works are selected to illustrate different aspects of the period, the Golden Age of Dutch and Flemish Art. Topics include discussion on genre, (or types of painting) as well as ideas on the “function” of different types of works, from landscape to still life, and deceptively simple "domestic" scenes, often with their suprising, complex, yet beautiful layers of hidden allegory. To some extent we’ll learn how to look at paintings in the same ways a trained Art Historian does.

In particular, we’ll look at Symbolism and iconography. How exactly did Dutch and Flemish artists use symbols and symbolism within their work to construct meaning? How can we learn to read these symbols today?

Since the Beit collection (partly at Russborough House, partly in the NGI) is so much in the news at the moment, we'll also take a look at this maginifcient gift of works, from the stunning detail of a van Ruisdale lanscape, to the beuatiful and complex allegory of Gabriele Metsu. There wil be plenty of treats, hidden deatils and suprises for those who come along, so bring a friend. Truly, a tour not to be missed.

Meet Details: Please meet your guide, Arran Henderson, 5-6 minutes before the start of tour, inside the front of door, just inside the foyer of Nat Gal, near and outside the bookshop entrance. Thank you. Tour starts at 6pm sharp, and is limited to 12 guests; please book early to avoid disappointment. If places left over on the day, last-minute atendees may pay on door (€16.50) , subject to availability.