Arthur K. Wheelock, Jr.

Following the thrilling blockbuster exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., this book presents the complete works of the great Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675). Oversize, fullpage colorplates of each of Vermeer's 35 known masterpieces capture the luminosity and the remarkable originality of the paintings and make this the next best thing to actually having attended the sold-out show.Vermeer's gorgeous interiors and his mastery of light's expressive qualities make the everyday world shine with a jewel-like freshness. Most of his paintings were recently restored, and all have been newly photographed, so the 44 full-color reproductions in this book show their brilliance -- and Vermeer's genius -- to the best advantage.… (altro)

While during his lifetime Vermeer made a modest living with his artistry, at the time of his death, he was heavily in debt and sadly under appreciated. It wasn't until the late 19th century that his works were enthusiastically embraced and acclaimed for the exquisite beauty they represent.

This beautiful coffee table book highlights each of Vermeer's paintings, with an in depth study not only of the work, but in addition, the small tidbits known of Vermeer at the time of his masterpiece.

This fascinating book is a joy to behold and I spent hours observing the subtle nuances.

There are only 35 known paintings, one of which (The Concert) was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in March 2007. This work is priceless and may be forever gone.

Vermeer's paintings are infused with a radiance of light. Time stands still on the canvas and we, as observers, feel as though we stepped into a private space wherein the figures freeze mid air with an eloquent motion and if we listen carefully, we can hear the dust quietly settle.

Of the 35 known works, I counted 14 wherein radiant light shone through a window. Many paintings contain musical instruments:

And, something I found fascinating was the fact that in four of the 35 paintings the same yellow satin jacket trimmed in white fur was worn.

In further study, I learned that while originally the fur was thought to be ermine, in reality, most likely it is white squirrel or white cat...

I'll end with a high recommendation to read this book if you are interested in art, art history, or simply delight in stunning beauty at the hands of a master.… (altro)