After a six-month break, Mrs. Maurine Cooper's popular art lectures begin again tomorrow at the Bermuda National Gallery.

The first in this Spring series is "Dutch Artists'' and will concentrate on such painters as Rembrandt, De Hooch, Vermeer and Van Gogh.

This time, however, the talks will be held during the lunch hour: "We are hoping this will attract people who are working in town and, yes, it's quite all right to bring your lunch along,'' says Mrs. Cooper. "The whole idea is meant to help out people with time restrictions, so after 45 minutes, my kitchen timer (specially purchased for the occasion!) will go `Ping' and I'll stop.'' She hopes that her informal talks, illustrated by colour slides, will "reach out to the man in the street, give people a chance to relax in the middle of a busy day and learn something at the same time!'' Mrs. Cooper, who received the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour for her services to the arts in the New Year's Honours List, decided to commence this series with Dutch painters to tie in with the Gallery's projected Meyer Travel group visit to Holland later this year. "The Dutch have produced some wonderful artists and I thought that people who are planning to go on this trip, would find it specially interesting.'' The lectures form part of the Gallery's ongoing education programme.

Other talks planned by Mrs. Cooper are "Watercolour Gems'' on March 29, "Three Wyeths'' (N.C., Andrew and Jamie) on April 19, "Artists Mad about Colour'' on May 10 and "Three Italian Giants'' (Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael) on May 31.

"Dutch Artists'' takes place at the Gallery tomorrow, March 8 from 12.30 to 1.15 p.m. Admission is $10 ($5 for National Gallery members).

DUTCH ART -- Pieter De Hooch is just one of the Dutch artists featured in a series of Lunchtime Lectures.