Vermeer

A Fine Introduction to a Master's Work

Author Arthur Wheelock is something of an authority on Vermeer with a half-dozen or so books on his subject. Many are of the scholarly, academic sort. In this well-illustrated and affordable volume, Wheelock provides a useful introduction to Vermeer and the context in which he worked. There is a good overview of painting in Delft at that time, and of Vermeer's contemporaries who influenced him.

Best of all, however, are some 40 or so full color, full-page illustrations featuring all known paintings confirmed to be by Vermeer. Enlarged images of some of these, focus on details and Vermeer's brush strokes and enable some understanding of his technique.

For the artist or student looking to see large, full-color, well-produced images of the paintings, this is an excellent starting point.