Visual abstraction is not merely an aesthetic quest it is a biological necessity. Such patterning has often been appreciated for its own sake music without vocal narrative elements tends to be enjoyed in a similar manner.įrom the late-nineteenth century onwards, visual abstract or formal qualities were increasingly emphasized, analyzed and finally isolated by painters. The arrangement of lines, forms, tone and color, even in a painting depicting an aspect of the known world, can be viewed as a series of non-representational relationships. The abstract qualities in art are those which are independent of a work's resemblance to external reality. While not written as a 'how-to' manual, realist painters will find a true treasure trove of technical information that can be apapted to almost any style of figurative painting.Ī Dutch term for the painting technique called 'maniera lavata,' that describes a method of dead-coloring (underpainting) in which each specific area of the painting is first approximated in a flat tint-a relatively light wash-before creating the final nuances of form, hue and light.Ī loss of media or scratches, often resulting in a loss on the surface, extending to the paint and ground layers, caused by faulty cleaning, friction as well as where the frame touches the painted surface. Each of the book's 24 topics is accompanied by abundant color illustrations and diagrams.īy observing at close quarters the studio practices of Vermeer and his preeminent contemporaries, the reader will acquire a concrete understanding of 17th-century painting methods and materials and gain a fresh view of Vermeer's 35 works of art, which reveal a seamless unity of craft and poetry. Also investigated are a number of key issues related specifically to Vermeer's studio methods, such as the camera obscura, studio organization as well as how he depicted wall-maps, floor tiles, pictures-within-pictures, carpets and other of his most defining motifs.

Looking Over Vermeer's Shoulder is a comprehensive study of the materials and painting techniques that made Vermeer one of the greatest masters of European art.īolstered by the author's qualifications as a professional painter and a Vermeer connoisseur, every facet of 17th-century and Vermeer's painting practices-including canvas preparation, underdrawing, underpainting, glazing, palette, brushes, pigments and composition-is laid out in clear, comprehensible language.

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