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The Dance of Geometry
Brian Howell has masterfully interwoven three imagined episodes from the life of Johannes Vermeer. We observe the painter's own childhood and apprenticeship. We read a crime story involving an episode from the life of a modern-day ‘copyist', who is blackmailed into forging this masterpiece to save the woman he loves. We follow a French connoisseur who travels to Delft to visit Vermeer, only to find himself embroiled in a clandestine and deadly debate of the Painter's Guild about a new invention.
220 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 9, 2020
This is Howells first novel, but the second one I have read, the other being 'Sight Unseen' published by Zagava in 2019.
'The Dance' takes three episodes relating to Vermeer and is, I assume, based on actual biographical knowledge. It would certainly appear to be so, as Howell captures the period very well
The first part of the book is concerned with Vermeers childhood, by which we mean about the ages 5-17. Though it has incident I generally find the childhood of biographical subjects somewhat dull but at least Howell avoids the 'which parent was begot by which grandparent', and the formative years of Vermeers pooing and wailing. We get some sex and drinking but really there is more scene-setting/colour than interest in this section.
The second is the best part, and explores the (possible) notion of Vermeer using a camera-obscura as an aid in his works. Though there seems to be no direct evidence (a letter or document) Howell demonstrates how lines of perspective (the dance of geometry) and optical distancing appears to demonstrate its use and offers us a scenario involving secrecy and conspiracy. I liked this section a lot.
The final part is related (sort of) to the modern construction of fakes. I have had a long interest in the creation of fake artworks and we learn a little of technique here, but this part of the book seems mainly concerned with 'getting into the head' of Vermeer and as such uses literary technique, flashback, capitals, multiple narrators etc to achieve this end. I find such things a bit too clever-seeming for my liking, but that's the modern novel for you.
I cannot help but compare it to 'Sight Unseen' which involves a Vermeer style painter, camera obscuras, multiple narrators, some sex and potential fakery. Sound familiar? You betcha! Eighteen years separate these books so Howell has been 'exploring the theme' for quite a while now. Its good to have an obsession I think - and this is the typist of experience writing! But 'Sight Unseen', perhaps unsurprisingly given the time lapse, is the better book by far and if you have read that you probably don't need to read this one unless you really are a Vermeer/obscura obsessive.
'The Dance' takes three episodes relating to Vermeer and is, I assume, based on actual biographical knowledge. It would certainly appear to be so, as Howell captures the period very well
The first part of the book is concerned with Vermeers childhood, by which we mean about the ages 5-17. Though it has incident I generally find the childhood of biographical subjects somewhat dull but at least Howell avoids the 'which parent was begot by which grandparent', and the formative years of Vermeers pooing and wailing. We get some sex and drinking but really there is more scene-setting/colour than interest in this section.
The second is the best part, and explores the (possible) notion of Vermeer using a camera-obscura as an aid in his works. Though there seems to be no direct evidence (a letter or document) Howell demonstrates how lines of perspective (the dance of geometry) and optical distancing appears to demonstrate its use and offers us a scenario involving secrecy and conspiracy. I liked this section a lot.
The final part is related (sort of) to the modern construction of fakes. I have had a long interest in the creation of fake artworks and we learn a little of technique here, but this part of the book seems mainly concerned with 'getting into the head' of Vermeer and as such uses literary technique, flashback, capitals, multiple narrators etc to achieve this end. I find such things a bit too clever-seeming for my liking, but that's the modern novel for you.
I cannot help but compare it to 'Sight Unseen' which involves a Vermeer style painter, camera obscuras, multiple narrators, some sex and potential fakery. Sound familiar? You betcha! Eighteen years separate these books so Howell has been 'exploring the theme' for quite a while now. Its good to have an obsession I think - and this is the typist of experience writing! But 'Sight Unseen', perhaps unsurprisingly given the time lapse, is the better book by far and if you have read that you probably don't need to read this one unless you really are a Vermeer/obscura obsessive.
December 7, 2019
3.5 / 5
Shadows and light
Brian Howell’s successful first book, The Dance of Geometry, is an indulgence for all of us art aficionados – those of us who have found ourselves irrevocably lost in a “story” captured on canvas, and the clandestine lives and experiences of the artists themselves.
Howell artfully interweaves three unique perspectives, offering the reader a rare glimpse into the mind and life of 17th century artistic mastermind, Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer – the artist as a child, pliable and vulnerable to influence; Vermeer as an artist in his prime; and a modern-day art copyist in quest of more than a mere replica of the Dutch artist’s work. Excerpts of Vermeer’s childhood and experiences which would influence his work later on in his life are melded together, further on in the plane of time, with an abstract narrative of his journey to becoming an ingenious and respected artist in later years.
The story casts shadows and light on the beautiful harmony, colour, and depth found in Vermeer’s art, possibly enhanced by incorporating the use of a camera obscura, and utilization of de Vries’ perspective and visual field.
The final chronicle by the modern day art copyist delving into Vermeer’s work and milieu as an artist, is the final ‘signature’ to Howell’s literary work of art.
By and large, The Dance of Geometry is an engrossing piece of abstract work that is worth exploring in detail not unlike Vermeer’s own.
Shadows and light
Brian Howell’s successful first book, The Dance of Geometry, is an indulgence for all of us art aficionados – those of us who have found ourselves irrevocably lost in a “story” captured on canvas, and the clandestine lives and experiences of the artists themselves.
Howell artfully interweaves three unique perspectives, offering the reader a rare glimpse into the mind and life of 17th century artistic mastermind, Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer – the artist as a child, pliable and vulnerable to influence; Vermeer as an artist in his prime; and a modern-day art copyist in quest of more than a mere replica of the Dutch artist’s work. Excerpts of Vermeer’s childhood and experiences which would influence his work later on in his life are melded together, further on in the plane of time, with an abstract narrative of his journey to becoming an ingenious and respected artist in later years.
The story casts shadows and light on the beautiful harmony, colour, and depth found in Vermeer’s art, possibly enhanced by incorporating the use of a camera obscura, and utilization of de Vries’ perspective and visual field.
The final chronicle by the modern day art copyist delving into Vermeer’s work and milieu as an artist, is the final ‘signature’ to Howell’s literary work of art.
By and large, The Dance of Geometry is an engrossing piece of abstract work that is worth exploring in detail not unlike Vermeer’s own.
June 26, 2007
A fine book about Vermeer, his attitude to shape and color and the drama in his life.
July 16, 2026
I got this book on a whim thinking this author was a horror/weird fiction writer and instead got a historical fiction book about Vermeer and camera obscura, the diary of Monconys who met Vermeer and then some story about a modern day art forger. In the end maybe it was weird fiction. I enjoyed it. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews