About this item
Highlights
- Exploring the convergence of art and science in the map renderings of one of the world's most beloved artistsMarcel Proust declared View of Delft by Johannes Vermeer (1632-75) "the most beautiful painting in the world.
- Author(s): Rozemarijn Landsman
- 128 Pages
- Art, Individual Artists
Description
About the Book
"A convergence of science and art, maps held a very important place in the Netherlands in the seventeenth century, and they were of particular interest to Vermeer, who had something of an obsession with them. Of the thirty-four paintings attributed to him, nine have wall maps and other cartographic objects in them, and this fascination with maps has long intrigued scholars. Other painters of his time were drawn to maps, but none painted them with such precision. This first book to fully explore this intriguing aspect of this beloved artist's work will greatly enrich our understanding of him"--Book Synopsis
Exploring the convergence of art and science in the map renderings of one of the world's most beloved artists
Marcel Proust declared View of Delft by Johannes Vermeer (1632-75) "the most beautiful painting in the world." Indeed, viewers have been captivated by Vermeer's extraordinary art since the 19th-century rediscovery of the Dutch painter. Maps, an intricate fusion of art and science, held an important and multifaceted place in the Netherlands in the 17th century and were of particular interest to Vermeer. Of the approximately 34 paintings attributed to the Delft-based artist, wall maps and other cartographic objects are depicted in nine of them, including the renowned Officer and Laughing Girl and his masterpiece, The Art of Painting. With stunning reproductions and incisive text, this book is the most comprehensive study of the artist's depiction of wall maps to date. Drawing on rare surviving examples of the maps and other primary sources, author Rozemarijn Landsman examines this intriguing aspect of Vermeer's work, greatly enriching and expanding our understanding of the art and life of the "Sphinx of Delft."
Review Quotes
Vermeer's Maps is one of the most beautiful schol - arly publications I have come across in recent years...One can only wish that all books about Vermeer were as unstintingly produced, for his work can only be truly appreciated and understood by looking closely at every detail.--Dr. Matt Mingus "The Portolan"
Vermeer's Maps is a dauntingly ambitious, obsessively researched labor of love. It is a beautiful book, not only in its dazzling array of maps and paintings but also in the elegance of its writing and the deftness of its arguments, which at moments seem overwhelming with its factography and data.--Nenad Georgievski "Vintage Cafe"
Questions arose concerning the purpose of these maps. Were they just products of the time's fashion, or do they give a deeper meaning to Vermeer's masterful work? These are just a few inquiries Landsman examines in Vermeer's Maps through incisive text and exceptional reproductions.--Kame Hame "Widewalls"