Event Details
- Start Date 15/04/2026
- Start Time 11:00
- End Date 15/04/2026
- End Time 13:00
- Location San Roque Club
The Golden Age Of Spanish Painting
by Gail Turner
Spain’s Golden Age of painting (1560–1660) blossomed under the powerful rule of Philip II and his successors, blending religious intensity with artistic brilliance. El Greco’s hauntingly spiritual figures brought a bold new vision to Spanish art, while later, Velázquez transformed royal portraiture at the court of Philip IV. His grand formal portraits exuded majesty, but it was his intimate, informal works—like Las Meninas—that revealed the human side of royalty with striking realism. This extraordinary era placed Spain at the heart of European art, leaving a legacy of drama, depth, and innovation.
ABOUT THE LECTURER
Gail Turner is a distinguished historian, art historian, and accomplished painter with a deep passion for Spain and all things Spanish. A long-standing and much-loved lecturer for The Arts Society, Gail has shared her expertise through a wide range of prestigious institutions, including the V&A, the National Gallery, the Art Fund, Art Pursuits, and the Courtauld Institute Summer Courses.
She has lectured for Cambridge University Summer Schools, Inscape, and numerous arts organisations across Europe. Gail has also led cultural tours to Spain for The Arts Society and Martin Randall Travel, bringing art and history vividly to life on location. Her early career included lecturing at the Prado and the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid and serving as Deputy Curator of the Keats-Shelley Memorial House in Rome. She also worked as a consultant in illuminated manuscripts for Christie’s.
In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the promotion of Spanish culture among British audiences, Gail was awarded the Encomienda de Isabel la Católica (the equivalent of a CBE) by the King of Spain in 2015. She currently serves as President of The Arts Society Colchester.