PUBLISHED TO ACCOMPANY THE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXHIBITION AT THE RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM, THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR STUDY ON VERMEER'S LIFE AND WORK FOR MANY YEARS.
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'Proust was once so excited to see a Vermeer show that he collapsed ... I got chest pains merely leafing through the catalogue' Jonathan Jones, Guardian
'Invest in the fat catalogue, stuffed with scholarly discoveries and photographic closeups, and you will learn about everything from Vermeer's optical mastery to his moral symbolism' Rachel Campbell-Johnston, The Times
'Excellent' Artists & Illustrators
'Getting a ticket for the once-in-a-lifetime Vermeer exhibition, above, at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam this year might frankly be a bit of a challenge, but you can at least console yourself with the exhibition catalogue, published by Thames & Hudson, which is a gorgeous thing. Nothing matches seeing a painting in the flesh, but this comes mightily close.' The Herald
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Vermeer's intensely quiet and enigmatic paintings invite the viewer into a private world, often prompting more questions than answers. Who is being portrayed? Are his subjects real or imagined? And how did he create such an unrivalled sense of intimacy?
Bringing together diverse strands of the Dutch master's professional and private worlds, this is the first major authoritative study of Vermeer's life and work for many years, throwing light on all thirty-seven of his paintings.
The book was designed by Irma Boom, the 'Queen of Books', and printed on an uncoated 'Munken Print White' paper, specially commissioned to ensure the veracity of colours. Irma Boom says: 'the matte paper brings you closer to Vermeer; there is no gloss or glare in between, just like with the real works.' With a wide selection of contextual illustrations, commentaries and up-to-date research by distinguished international Vermeer scholars, this is the definitive volume on the most admired of all seventeenth-century Dutch masters.
With contributions by
Bart Cornelis, National Gallery, London
Bente Frissen, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Sabine Pénot, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Pieter Roelofs, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Friederike Schuett, Staedel Museum, Frankfurt am Main
Christian Tico Seifert, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh
Ariane van Suchtelen, Mauritshuis, The Hague
Gregor J.M. Weber, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Marjorie E. Wieseman, National Gallery of Art, Washington
Edited by:
Pieter Roelofs,
Gregor J. M. Weber
Imprint: Thames & Hudson
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 265mm,
Width: 215mm,
Weight: 1.380kg
ISBN: 9780500026724
ISBN 10: 0500026726
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 30 May 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Foreword by Taco Dibbits, general director, Rijksmuseum Section I: Essays 1. Vermeer - Biography An introduction to Vermeer's life and work 2. Vermeer - His House Although little is known about Vermeer as a personality, an investigation into his direct environment reveals much more. Paying a visit to Oude Langendijk in Delft, this essay examines Vermeer's family members, household life and personal possessions. 3. Vermeer's Invented World Vermeer's paintings are almost exclusively interiors, imbued with a momentary stillness in time which nevertheless has been carefully constructed and orchestrated to direct the observer's gaze. This creation of intimacy is the key theme of the exhibition. Section II: The Paintings Includes every painting by Vermeer, grouped in 13 thematic sections, each written by a curatorial authority. Each theme includes 2–4 works: Delft – Coming Home Paintings: View of the Delft, The Little Street Inside – Still-life Figures, Safe World Paintings: A Maid Asleep, Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, The Milkmaid Very Close – Introvert Paintings: Woman in Blue Reading a Letter, The Lacemaker Secluded Paintings: The Music Lesson, The Concert, The Love Letter Windows – The Outside World Inside Paintings: Officer and Laughing Girl, Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid, Woman with a Lute, Young Woman with a Water Pitcher Letters – The World Outside Inside Paintings: Mistress and Maid, A Lady Writing Fashionable Intruders Paintings: The Glass of Wine, The Girl with a Wine Glass, Girl Interrupted in her Music Attraction/Across the Border Paintings: Girl with a Red Hat, Girl with Flute, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Study of a Young Woman Playing Music for.../Waiting for the (music-)partner Paintings: A Lady Standing at a Virginal, A Lady Seated at a Virginal, The Guitar Player, A Young Woman Seated at the Virginals The Whole World Inside Paintings: The Geographer, The Astronomer World of thoughts/Inner Reflections of Vanity and Faith Paintings: Woman with a Pearl Necklace, Woman Holding a Balance, Allegory of Catholic Faith Early Ambitions/Try Outs Paintings: Saint Praxedis, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, Diana and her Companions, The Procuress Late Ambition/Legate, Testimony Paintings: The Art of Painting
The authors all work at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Pieter Roelofs is Head of Paintings and Sculpture; Gregor J. M. Weber is Head of the Department of Fine Arts; and Taco Dibbits is general director.
Reviews for Vermeer: The Rijksmuseum's Major Exhibition Catalogue
'Proust was once so excited to see a Vermeer show that he collapsed … I got chest pains merely leafing through the catalogue' - Jonathan Jones, Guardian 'Invest in the fat catalogue, stuffed with scholarly discoveries and photographic closeups, and you will learn about everything from Vermeer’s optical mastery to his moral symbolism' - Rachel Campbell-Johnston, The Times 'Excellent' - Artists & Illustrators 'A gorgeous thing. Nothing matches seeing a painting in the flesh, but this comes mightily close' - Herald Scotland 'Immerses the reader in the immensely rich pictorial world of the master painter from Delft .. extraordinary close-up detail' - Art Mag
