The Arts Society Helmsley: Torrentius: Lost Master of the Dutch Golden Age

RUPERT DICKENS

Rupert Dickens is an art historian based in south London with a special interest in Dutch and Flemish 16th and 17th century painting. He works at the Wallace Collection as a guide conducting public and private tours and lecturing on aspects of the collection. Rupert is also a tour director for a Cambridge-based company accompanying groups on art-themed tours to the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria and Italy. He has lectured to large audiences on subjects as diverse as the game of chess in art and Madame de Pompadour’s artistic patronage in 18th century France. He studied art history at Birkbeck College before undertaking a Masters in Dutch Golden Age Studies at University College London. Before that Rupert had a 26-year career as a BBC journalist ending as an editor in radio news. 

The extraordinary life of Johannes Torrentius reads like a Hollywood film script.  He was the only artist in 17th century Holland to be tortured, tried and imprisoned for heresy, before being sprung from jail by Charles I and brought to England as a court painter. He was praised by his contemporaries as a genius but only one of his paintings survives: a beautiful and enigmatic still-life which was lost for nearly 300 years before resurfacing in surprising circumstances. A detailed look at this masterpiece reveals some of the dark secrets and mysteries surrounding this obscure but fascinating artist.