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Title: Vermeer
ISBN: 1585679798
Author:
Gilles Aillaud
Albert Blankert
Publicate Date: 2007-10-04
Publish: 2007-10-04
List Price: $65.00
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $38.42
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $38.41
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Caveat Emptor
The content of this book is good. The reproductions are of a high standard and the views presented are balanced and sometimes stimulating.
HOWEVER,the editorial quality of this book is appalling. The references to the various illustrations are frequently inaccurate. In the "Catalogue" at the end, virtually all of the references to illustrations (figure 114 etc) are incorrect. On page 139, the text from the bottom of page 138 is repeated. The text that should appear at the bottom of page 139 (three lines probably) has disappeared entirely so that there is no continuity in the text. The same error occurs on page 146 so that again some text is repeated and some three lines of text are omitted.
Given the price of the book, one would think they could have afforded to have someone proof-read it!
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2: Recycled Gloss
This edition is overwhelmingly a rehash of the original volume initially published in 1986, dressed up a bit with better reproductions of some of Vermeer's paintings but otherwise undistinguished. The Dutch art historian, Albert Blankert, continues to doubt the authenticity of Vermeer's Girl with a Red Hat, for wholly unpersuasive reasons, and therefore excludes this amazing painting from the main text. For better but not entirely convincing reasons, he also excludes the National Gallery's Young Girl with a Flute, a painting almost certainly done by Vermeer but likely reworked badly by another's hand, so that it lacks Vermeer's magical refinement.
This book as well does not include a reference to the most recently recognized addition to Vermeer's canon, Young Woman at the Virginals, an attribution now with a history of more than five years. Moreover, one would have appreciated a recent reproduction of Vermeer's newly cleaned and restored The Procuress, an early work that presaged the artist's rather extensive use of the camera obscura. The restoration honors Vermeer's original intentions magnificently, bringing forth a silvery light not seen previously.
For the best volume showcasing high quality reproductions of Vermeer's work, one should consult Walter Leidtke's Vermeer and the Dutch School. For a comprehensive history revealing what is known about Vermeer and his milieu, do read Michael Montias' book (and not the precis contained in this volume). For a terrific digest of Vermeer's art and history, buy Anthony Bailey's Vermeer: A View of Delft.
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3: essential, but not up to date
The colour reproductions are partially good, but most of them do not live up to modern standards of colour management.
Also problematic seems to me that the recently sold "Young woman at the virginals" is not included. A short statement concerning this very essential matter would have been desirable, even though this volume is only a new edition of an older book (apparently not modified since 1992 or 1993).
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4: FINALLY!!! The publisher got it right...
Johannes Vermeer is--like Da Vinci and Van Gogh--an artist with a huge cult following in the art world. As such, an excess of titles claiming to be "catalogue raisonnes" [ i.e., a 6" x 8" or smaller sized book, usually published by the likes of PHAIDON or ABRAMS, and containing very dull and fuzzy quaility prints of an artist's works ] of the artist's works are published year after year--with the priority of the publishers being on SALES rather than on PRESENTING and showcasing the beauty of each piece of work, with high quality, large prints throughout the book.
I am happy to say that FINALLY, courtesy of the Overlook Press, Vermeer fans are given a juicy and sumptuous presentation of the Dutch artist's paintings, in a large, hardback format with high-resolution images printed to fill the page...YEEEES!!!
Not only are the images of a quality where you can discern Vermeer's boldest and subtlest applications of paint, but the color just GLOWS, even under the palest of flourescent bookstore illumination!
BUY THIS BOOK...YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
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