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Vermeer: The Complete Works by Arthur K. Wheelock  (1)  £9.99

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Light and Shade: A Classic Approach to Three-Dimensional Drawing (Dover Books on Art, Art History) by Mary P. Merrifield £4.46

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Amazon.co.uk Review
Philip Steadman's remarkable book, Vermeer's Camera, cracks an artistic enigma that has haunted art history for centuries. Over the years artists and art historians have marvelled at the extraordinary visual realism of the paintings of the 17th-century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. The painter's spectacular View of Delft, painted around 1661, and the beautiful domestic interior The Music Lesson seem almost photographic in their incredible detail and precise perspective. Since the 19th century, experts have speculated that Vermeer used a camera obscura, an early precursor of the modern camera. However, conclusive proof was never discovered, until now. In Vermeer's Camera, Philip Steadman conclusively proves that Vermeer did indeed use a camera obscura to complete his greatest canvases. Part art historical study, part scientific argument, but mainly a fascinating detective story, Vermeer's Camera argues that Vermeer had a camera obscura with a lens at the painting's viewpoint. He used this arrangement to project the scene onto the back wall of the room, which thus served as the camera's screen. He put paper on the wall and traced, perhaps even painted from the projected image. It is because Vermeer traced these images that they are the same size as the paintings themselves. Steadman painstakingly develops his argument through careful study of the history of the camera obscura, an exploration of 17th-century optics, and a detailed study of the light, optics, perspective and measurement of a series of Vermeer's paintings. He goes to remarkable lengths to reconstruct Vermeer's studio and its furnishings, down to the angle of the light from its windows.

The science is complex, but always clearly explained. Nor is this an attempt to reveal Vermeer as an artistic "cheat". Steadman convincingly argues that "Vermeer's obsessions with light, tonal values, shadow, and colour, for the treatment of which his work is so admired, are very closely bound up with his study of the special qualities of optical images". Vermeer's Camera is a wonderful book, that shows the ways in which, during the 17th century, art and science went hand in hand. It offers an enlarged, rather than reduced perspective on Vermeer. --Jerry Brotton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description
Over 100 years of speculation and controversy surround claims that the great seventeenth-century Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer, used the camera obscura to create some of the most famous images in Western art. This book is an intellectual detective story, meticulously reconstructing the artist's studio, complete with a camera obscura, providing exciting new evidence to support the view that Vermeer did indeed use the camera.

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Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters by David Hockney  (11)  £15.99

Vermeer (Phaidon Colour Library) by Martin Bailey  (1)  £4.46

The Materials of the Artist and Their Use in Painting by Max Doerner  (2)  £8.85

Vermeer Studies (History of Art) by I Gaskell £35.00

Vermeer: The Complete Works by Arthur K. Wheelock  (1)  £9.99

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2 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review (2 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   17 of 18 people found the following review helpful: A gripping book, 10 May 2002 By A Customer This book is a must for anyone interested in art - or even who just wants a good read. It's rather like a detective story. What is the evidence that Vermeer used a camera obscura to help create his paintings? The colour plates are rather good, too. A bargain.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   9 of 12 people found the following review helpful: A Camera's Delight!, 3 Dec 2001 By A Customer This review is from: Vermeer's Camera: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Masterpieces (Hardcover) Steadman's really cracked it with this brilliant, informative book. It gives great inside information, and really was a splendid read. Fantastic!!  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this) › See all 2 customer reviews...		Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews