What the Old Masters Can Teach Us

How did the Old Masters create such convincing, resonant images of the human figure in space — and what can their methods teach us today?

Join us for a focused, in-person visit to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, where we’ll examine close-up some of the great figurative works of the seventeenth century. Together, we’ll explore how painters like Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Guido Reni, and Poussin approached composition, structure, and light — and how they used colour, drawing, and surface to bring the figure fully into its environment.

This is not an art history lecture, but a practical and observational session aimed at artists. We’ll look closely at:

• How figures are constructed in relation to space and light
• The use of preparatory drawings and underpainting
• How coloured grounds and glazes influence the finished work
• The harmony between drawing and brushwork
• How Rubens’ oil sketches reveal the process of building a painting

Our primary focus will be on Rubens, using his dynamic oil sketches to uncover the methods behind his larger works — from first idea to final flourish. By understanding how his paintings were built, we begin to see how these strategies can inform our own studio practice.

Whether you’re an experienced painter or someone returning to drawing after a break, this visit is designed to deepen your understanding of figurative composition and spark ideas for your own work.

• Includes price of admission