In 1653, the artist Johannes Vermeer, the twenty-one year old son of an innkeeper, registered as a master painter with the Delft guild. He went on to enjoy a respectable local reputation as a painter until his death in 1675; it was not until the mid-nineteenth century, however, that his genius was widely appreciated. Today, Vermeer's thirty-five paintings are regarded as masterpieces. In this book, the author presents an intriguing portrait of Vermeer's life and character, long lost in history. Bailey recreates the "golden age" of Dutch culture in the seventeenth century, introduces Vermeer's colleagues, and portrays his domestic life in vibrant detail; he also sheds light on the science and artistry behind the glorious, almost mystical, paintings.
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