Emerald
Foundation
The Hague, the Netherlands
Background
Liane Collot d’Herbois
Painter and painting therapist
17.12.1907 – 17.09.1999
The content of the training course was based on general medicine and spiritual science developed from the deep insights of Dr. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) which he called “Anthroposophy”.
Out of spiritual science Rudolf Steiner created the foundations for widening the scope of medical science. The fundamental principles are reflected in many lectures and in the book: “Extending Practical Medicine” (GA 27) which he wrote in cooperation with the Dutch doctor Ita Wegman, (1876-1943).
The painter Liane Collot d’Herbois (1907-1999) developed a colour theory for painting and painting therapy based on the same foundations. She gave the impulse for the start of the Emerald Foundation training in painting therapy.
The training course in painting therapy at Emerald was a schooling path based on anthroposophy.
In the light of the aspect of schooling, the individial path of the student was always respected.
The training course ran from 1986 – 2019 led by Josine Hutchison – de Lanoy Meijer (27 August 1948 – 7 March 2023) and her husband dr. Paul Hutchison.
How did the training course start?
Josine Hutchison-de Lanoy Meijer started to work as an art therapist in 1976.
In 1978 she started to work as a painting therapist with Dr L. P. Walburgh Schmidt and from 1982 with Dr P. T. Hutchison.
Since meeting Liane Collot d’Herbois in the autumn of 1978 she has been working to put into practice the wide knowledge of colour and painting therapy that Liane shared with her.
At the close of the painting therapy courses which Josine gave for final year students at the Tobias School of Art in England from 1980-1990, she was also frequently approached by people requesting a full-time training course in this way of doing painting therapy.
In the spring of 1986, in direct response to requests from both Liane Collot d’Herbois herself and a group of people from England and The Netherlands, Josine started the first training course. The course was made possible thanks to a unique combination of a number of patient work series, made by patients in Josine’s own practice, and the knowledge and indications for treatment for these patients which Liane had shared with her and Paul.
Over the years there was a steady increase in the number of participants in these courses and it became clear that a more official framework was needed.
In November 1988 the “Foundation for Promotion of Painting Therapy on Anthroposophical Principles according to the work of Liane Collot d’Herbois”, was set up. In March 1989 Liane Collot d’Herbois gave the foundation the name “Emerald”.
From 1988 the Foundation took over all activities. Josine Hutchison-de Lanoy Meijer and Dr Paul Hutchison were the founders, directors and senior teachers of the training course.
Until her death in 1999, Liane Collot d’Herbois had contributed continuously to the training course. During the courses she would speak to students of the spiritual background out of which she had developed her all-embracing insights into light, colour and darkness in relation to the cosmos and to man.
Contact us
