Art Lovers discussion

We will end 2016 with a group read focused on The Vanishing Velázquez: A 19th Century Bookseller’s Obsession with a Lost Masterpiece by Laura Cumming. It will give us an opportunity to coalesce as a group while discussing one of the more famous painters of the Baroque period. There will be one main topic focusing on progressing through the book itself, while additional side topics will favor different aspect of the artist, his works, and times.

Since it is the end of the year, with accompanying holidays and much hustle and bustle, the pace will be low-key. We will use the remaining weeks of the year to read the book and ideally wrapping it all up towards the very end of December.

The book is just being published in the paperback format (as of Nov 8) and is of course also available in hardback as well as e-book versions. See:
https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Velá...

We will begin discussing the actual book on Monday November 14, but feel free to chip in at any point including this week if you have thoughts/perspectives you would like to share/discuss.

SCHEDULE:

Week 1 - Nov 14: Chapters 1-3

Week 2 - Nov 21: Chapters 4-5 (Thanksgiving week)

Week 3 - Nov 28: Chapters 6-9

Week 4 - Dec 4: Chapters 10-13

Week 5 - Dec 12: Chapters 14-17

Week 6 - Dec 19: Chapters 18-20

Week 7 - Dec 26: Final Thoughts/Wrapping up The Vanishing Velázquez: A 19th Century Bookseller’s Obsession with a Lost Masterpiece

A few recent reviews in regards to our book:

The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/11/boo...

The Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what...

The Independent:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...

There is an avalanche of books related to Velázquez if you have the urge to dig deeper at the library or in a bookshop. Feel free to recommend books and/or articles related to Velázquez and his times in this thread. To mention just a few of these:

Delphi Classics has built a compilation of his art in the KIndle format. Complete Works of Diego Velazquez (Delphi Classics)
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Velaz...



Taschen recently published a giant coffee table book focused on Velázquez and his works. Velázquez. The Complete Works has received excellent reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Velázquez-Comp...



In the Shadow of Velázquez: A Life in Art History by Jonathan Brown seems interesting:

https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Velázqu...




I have always been a fan of the older Time-Life Library of art series. It has one volume devoted to Velázquez.

https://www.amazon.com/World-Velazque...



And many, many more....

My book came today in the mail! I will try to start reading tonight, BUT I might be too distracted or depressed depending on current situations in the USA right now...I'll keep you posted!

Yes, I am both a bit anxious and distracted at this point. Our polls don't close for another four hours or so. I noticed that the very first results are starting to trickle in from the east coast. Definitely not a night for reading (or perhaps that would be the better course). An immersion in Velazquez's world may be preferable...? ; -)

I am watching (listening) live right now. I don't think I'm going to bed tonight.

This is a cool little video particularly regarding the painting of Las Meninas found by Ker Metanoia. He gave me permission to share it and I invite you to check it out! Very interesting!

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanitie...

I will ask this for Haaze...Is anyone still reading this particular book? Or has anyone finished it? Is this book still on anyone's list of reading for the month or year?

I'm just trying to get an inclination of where we are on this topic. It would be great to hear your feedback, good or bad!

I just got the book through interlibrary loan, and will start it soon.

Connie wrote: "I just got the book through interlibrary loan, and will start it soon."

Great Connie!
I look forward to your input!

Heather wrote: "I will ask this for Haaze...Is anyone still reading this particular book? Or has anyone finished it? Is this book still on anyone's list of reading for the month or year?

I'm just trying to get an..."


I plan to read it. I was hoping to get to it within the week, but there's no sign the media could rest sooner.

Ker Metanoia wrote: " plan to read it..."

Sounds good!