num_pages: 256
description: Set against the dramatic backdrop of the golden age of Dutch culture the story of one of the world's most beloved - and most elusive - painters.In the seventeenth century industry and commerce thrived in the Dutch city of Delft as did art and culture. In 1653 the twenty-one-year-old son of an innkeeper the artist Jan Vermeer registered as a master painter with the city's Guild. Vermeer married well had many children and enjoyed a respectable local reputation as a painter until his death in 1675. But it was not until the mid-nineteenth century that his genius was widely appreciated. Today Vermeer's thirty-five paintings are regarded as masterpieces.In Vermeer Anthony Bailey presents a compelling portrait of Vermeer's life and character long lost in history. Bailey re-creates the atmosphere of the times introduces Vermeer's contemporaries and portrays his domestic life in vibrant detail. Drawing on period documents and his own intense curiosity Bailey sheds light on the science and artistry behind the glorious almost mystical paintings. Meticulously researched and elegantly written Vermeer will stand as the classic work on Vermeer for years to come.
language: English
title: Vermeer: A View of Delft
publisher: Henry Holt and Co.