From Library Journal
Despite the federal budget crisis and thanks to private monies, the Vermeer exhibition at the National Gallery is underway. To coincide with the exhibition, curator Wheelock has put together a thoroughly researched catalog of the exhibition's 23 works. Through the bits of evidence gleaned from Vermeer's life and 17th-century historical fact, Wheelock has pieced together Vermeer's artistic and geographical influences. The essay on the artist's use of perspective is the most remarkable because it enables the reader to understand the technician behind the artist; X-radiographs, included throughout the book, detail how Vermeer used a pin and a string to exercise his near-perfect perspective in his paintings. The excellent, full-size color plates are accompanied by brief descriptions of provenance, exhibitions, and technique. Although some claims made about the artist lack written documentation, this carefully researched work is recommended for fine arts collections. Given the popularity of the exhibition, large public libraries will also want to purchase.Julie C. Boehning, "Library Journal"Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Johannes Vermeer (Getting to Know the World Artists Series) ANNOTATION
An overview of the life and work of the seventeenth-century Dutch painter, famous for creating realistic scenes of everyday life.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Heidi Green 0516222821
Children sometimes complain that history is boring. They might agree that drawing and painting are fun, but by and large, they feel that learning history about famous painters is dull. To make art and art history a little more fun, author/illustrator Mike Venezia has developed the "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists" series. Each book combines facts about the artist's lives and commentary about their work with Venezia's own humorous, comic book-like drawings. The result both engages and informs the reader. This book addresses Vermeer's childhood and career as a painter, as well as several of his famous paintings including A View of Delft, Girl with the Red Hat, The Lace Maker, and The Milk Maid. Readers are sure to enjoy this amusing history book. 2002, Children's Press/Scholastic,
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