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Snowy landscapes: One artist and the Little Ice Age

Members' talk and Q&A

Visit Aert van der Neer’s frozen landscapes
Date
Thursday, 12 December 2024
Time
6 - 7 pm GMT
Available online only
Audience
Members

About

Winter is upon us. As the nights draw in and it grows colder, discover how one 17th-century Dutch painter conjured up the feeling of winter. 

A specialist in moonlit and frost-bitten landscapes, Aert van der Neer (1603/4-1677) used light and colour to depict his native Holland in the depths of winter. In his paintings, figures skate over frozen rivers, blankets of snow pile up on roofs, and skeletal trees form silhouettes against frosty skies. The scenes van der Neer represents are usually imaginary, but they are clearly inspired by the bitterly cold winters experienced in the Low Countries between the 1640s and 1660s, some of the coldest periods in what has become known as the ‘Little Ice Age.’  

Join us for a closer look at the techniques van der Neer used to paint the winter landscape. Learn about the artists who influenced him and the meteorological conditions he depicted. And don't forget to wrap up warm!

Image: Detail from Aert van der Neer, 'A Frozen River near a Village, with Golfers and Skaters', about 1648

Speaker

Isaac Nugent is a Cultural and Intellectual Historian. He teaches A Level Art History with Art History Link-Up, an educational charity that provides free Art History courses for sixth form and secondary school students attending state schools. He has a keen interest in Early Modern Europe (1350-1750), a place where powerful ideas were born that continue to shape our world today.

Talks & conversations

Snowy landscapes: One artist and the Little Ice Age

Members' talk and Q&A

Visit Aert van der Neer’s frozen landscapes
Date
Thursday, 12 December 2024
Time
6 - 7 pm GMT
Available online only
Audience
Members

Free for Members

This is an online event, exclusive to Members, hosted on Zoom.

Members, please book your free ticket to access this event. You will receive an E-ticket with instructions on how to access your online events, films and resources via your National Gallery account. Only one ticket can be booked per account.

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