Vermeer and the Delft School

by Walter A. Liedtke, Axel Ruger, Michiel C. Plomp

Seventeenth-century Delft has traditionally been viewed as a quaint town whose artists painted scenes of domestic life. This important book revises that image, showing that the small but vibrant Dutch city produced fine examples of all the major arts -- including luxury goods and sophisticated paintings for the court at The Hague and for patrician collectors in Delft itself. The book traces the history and culture of Delft from the 1200s through the lifetime of the city's most renowned painter, Johannes Vermeer. The authors discuss at length some ninety major paintings (seventeen by Vermeer), forty drawings, and a choice selection of decorative arts, all of which are reproduced in full color. Among the paintings are state portraits, history pictures, still lifes, views of palaces and church interiors, illusionistic murals, and refined genre pictures by Vermeer and Pieter de Hooch. The rich works on paper encompass exquisite drawings by Delft artists and sketches of the town by visiting artists. Included in the decorative arts are tapestries, bronze statuary, silver, Delftware, and glass. The volume concludes with an essay that takes the reader on a walk through seventeenth-century Delft. It is accompanied by maps of the city's neighborhoods that indicate major monuments and the homes of patrons, art dealers, and painters.

Genres: Art, History, Reference

626 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in conjunction with the exhibition of the same name that took place in 2001. The catalogue contains superb reproductions of the paintings, drawings and prints that were on display.

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful reproductions and fascinating background information, some drawn from contemporary diaries. Even in the 16th century, people traveled from Delft to The Hague on frequently scheduled boats, very much like the way we traveled on the tram this month. Many views of the powder explosion that killed Fabritius, giving it a vivid, contemporary feel.