Vermeer: The Complete Works

by Karl Schütz, Elizabeth Clegg (Translator)

Despite numbering at just 35, his works have prompted a New York Times best seller; a film starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth; record visitor numbers at art institutions from Amsterdam to Washington, DC; and special crowd-control measures at the Mauritshuis, The Hague, where thousands flock to catch a glimpse of the enigmatic and enchanting Girl with a Pearl Earring, also known as the "Dutch Mona Lisa".
In his lifetime, however, the fame of Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) barely extended beyond his native Delft and a small circle of patrons. After his death, his name was largely forgotten, except by a few Dutch art collectors and dealers. Outside of Holland, his works were even misattributed to other artists. It was not until the mid-19th century that Vermeer came to the attention of the international art world, which suddenly looked upon his narrative minutiae, meticulous textural detail, and majestic planes of light, spotted a genius, and never looked back.
This edition presents the calm yet compelling scenes so treasured in galleries across Europe and the United States in one monograph with top-quality reproductions. Crisp details and essays tracing Vermeer's career illuminate his remarkable ability to bear witness to the trends and trimmings of the Dutch Golden Age and so encapsulate an entire story in just one transient gesture, expression or glance.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Art History, Reference

432 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 2015

Reviews

[Bogdan Raț · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Vermeer of Delft, master of intimacy, innermost stillness of unspoken exchanges, reveals to us, be it in his portraits or in his interiors, a silence that is palpable. He does so without resorting to chiaroscuro employing only the most delicate touches, and mitigating the impressions of solitude through the atmosphere of a setting in which we may already feel at home." Emil Cioran

[Cosmin Tănase · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age, Johannes Vermeer is renowned for his masterly treatment and use of light in his work.

This is a stunning edition of Vermeer's work with art reproduction of the highest quality. I am mostly impressed with the content and format, well researched and presented.

The book presents the complete catalogue of the artist’s work in one printed monograph, with exquisitely reproduced pieces on full page spreads, also including enlarged versions for close-up studies.

[Anna C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on a Vermeer kick lately, because I'm about to go and see all eight of the Vermeer paintings in New York City (5 at the Met, 3 at the Frick). I also watched the "Girl with the Pearl Earring" movie with Colin and ScarJo. This book was... much, much better than the "Girl with the Pearl Earring" movie.

[Rhys Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johannes Vermeer: The Complete Works' is a visual masterpiece in itself. This book not only showcases Vermeer's stunning art but also provides insightful commentary and historical context. A must-have for any art lover's collection!

[Gary Ellenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful to look at. Boring to read. Classic art book. The paintings are why we get these books. The word’s themselves are too academic. Too much in the weeds for us non art historians. But, I am a big fanboy of Vermeer. He knows how to paint. A true master.

[Merahnaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku paling indah dan mewah tentang Vermeer yang pernah aku pegang dan miliki. Buku yang ingin sekali aku baca sampai tuntas. Tapi entah kapan menyelesaikannya.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small but mighty book brings together excellent reproductions and details of Vermeer's paintings, with very detailed background information and provenances of them all. Highly recommended!

[A YOGAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Wunder von Delft: Die Goldreserve der Kunstgeschichte auf Ihrem Bildschirm!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best!

[Milan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spitefully boring. The book, the printed copy, is wonderful - hefty with exquisite reproductions, an item de luxe. It feels so lavish to page through it, that not even the recalcitrantly tedious writing of mr Schütz and his endless enumerations of who bought what for how much when manages to yank the Persian rug of sumptuousness from under it. An then there is Vermeer. The author that smashed my idea of the visual genius as an infallible entity. Books, movies, albums by one artist or artists, they sure vary, you have gems in the catalogue, just as you have turds. Yet with visual arts, which I admire almost as much as I am bewildered by the craft behind their creation, I tended to view the oeuvres of Rothko, Magritte, or Caravaggio, as one glorious whole with mishaps registering merely as foibles, crumbs for the god of statistics. Vermeer smote me with the Milkmaid, the View of Delft is fine, the rest... ludicrous. Memeworthy monotony of lighting, figures injected with austere, still-life paralysis of expression, plain moronic faces. A one-hit wonder, for me at least.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Large prints of his work, which really helps to bring his paintings to life. Details are also shown large, in order to highlight and clarify things. Of course, his girl with a pearl earring is wonderful.

[Michael Loveabudge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The large high-quality reproductions make me very, very happy. Offers a very good, engaging overview of the work too.