Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer (1632--75) produced only about 37 paintings in his lifetime, yet his skills as an artist are as revered as those of any of the other Flemish and Dutch masters of the 17th century. He is renowned for his exquisitely detailed paintings of mundane scenes of daily life, each painting taking the viewer into an ordinary vignette of 17th-century Holland. This comprehensive volume, with foreword by Taco Dibbits, general director of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, was published to accompany the Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum that ran February 10 through June 4, 2023. In the catalogue, nine Vermeer scholars share their knowledge and expertise to present an in-depth study of all his known paintings. They give insight into his life and influences while analyzing the paintings and their compositions in great detail. Follow along as experts explore Vermeer's life and chronologically examine the evolution of his technique. VERDICT Heavily illustrated with images of the paintings, pictured both in full and in magnified detail, this catalogue is a feast for the eyes as well as the mind. One of the most comprehensive studies of Vermeer in years, worthy of any art history collection.--Sandy Knowles