Closer to Vermeer: New Research on the Painter and His Art - Hardcover

by Ige Verslype (Author), Abbie Vandivere (Author), Dorothy Mahon (Author)

Even 350 years after his death, Johannes Vermeer remains an inexhaustible source of fascination for art lovers and researchers alike. Closer to Vermeer provides a captivating analysis of research conducted during and after the Rijksmuseum's blockbuster 2023 Vermeer exhibition.

The book reveals new insights into Vermeer's creative process, materials, and painting techniques, exploring the meaning of his works and his evolving fame. It also addresses intriguing questions about the maps in his interiors, the role of the camera obscura, his choice of materials, and newly discovered documents about his patrons.

Richly illustrated, this book offers both art historians and passionate art lovers a unique glimpse into Vermeer's life and work and serves as an essential reference for future research on Vermeer.

Back Jacket

Closer to Vermeer explores the world of Johannes Vermeer, a painter whose work continues to fascinate more than 350 years after his death. Taking the landmark 2023 Rijksmuseum exhibition as a point of departure, this volume brings together new art historical and technical research by leading international experts.

How did Vermeer translate his creative ideas into paint? Did the seventeenth-century Dutch master truly rely on optical devices? What do the carefully rendered objects in his interiors reveal about the artist himself? And how has the perception of his small but extraordinary oeuvre evolved over time? Using the latest imaging techniques, researchers scrutinize Vermeer's masterpieces, yielding compelling new insights into his artistic process, material choices, and technical virtuosity. These investigations contribute to a deeper understanding of Vermeer's painting technique throughout his career. Other specialists revisit seventeenth-century sources, uncover new archival documents, and explore Vermeer's patrons and the material world he portrayed. The objects depicted in his interiors--maps, pearls, porcelain, kitchenware--are examined not merely as visual motifs, but as clues to his worldview and working methods.

At once scholarly and accessible, Closer to Vermeer offers a fresh, intimate perspective on one of the most enigmatic and beloved painters--a vital resource and enduring reference for specialists and art lovers alike.