Pieter Roelofs – författare

Commissioned by Jean, Duke of Berry, in the early years of the fifteenth century, this devotional volume is among the greatest books of hours ever produced and certainly the most important manuscript to survive the Middle Ages. Exuberant, detailed, and impossibly lavish, it encapsulates the most exquisite medieval calendar, which has become famous in its own right as a crown jewel of medieval art. Painstakingly made by hand on 206 sheets of the finest calfskin by three Flemish artists the Limbourg brothers Paul, Johan, and Herman this book of hours is unrivaled as a monument to the art of making books prior to the printing press. The keen interest in the natural world and the naturalistic means of representing it in the striking illuminations foreshadow the work of the Dutch and Flemish Renaissance. Recently restored at the Louvre s state-of-the-art facilities, the manuscript was explored in depth using the best imaging techniques and allowing hundreds of details to be analyzed. This volume is based on the finest reproductions possible, along with expert text that provides an entirely new and profound understanding of the artists methods and their sublime illuminations.

PUBLISHED TO ACCOMPANY THE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXHIBITION AT THE RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM, THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR STUDY ON VERMEER'S LIFE AND WORK FOR MANY YEARS. ---------- 'Proust was once so excited to see a Vermeer show that he collapsed … I got chest pains merely leafing through the catalogue' Jonathan Jones, Guardian 'Invest in the fat catalogue, stuffed with scholarly discoveries and photographic closeups, and you will learn about everything from Vermeer’s optical mastery to his moral symbolism' Rachel Campbell-Johnston, The Times'Excellent' Artists & Illustrators 'Getting a ticket for the once-in-a-lifetime Vermeer exhibition, above, at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam this year might frankly be a bit of a challenge, but you can at least console yourself with the exhibition catalogue, published by Thames & Hudson, which is a gorgeous thing. Nothing matches seeing a painting in the flesh, but this comes mightily close.' The Herald ---------- Vermeer's intensely quiet and enigmatic paintings invite the viewer into a private world, often prompting more questions than answers. Who is being portrayed? Are his subjects real or imagined? And how did he create such an unrivalled sense of intimacy? Bringing together diverse strands of the Dutch master's professional and private worlds, this is the first major authoritative study of Vermeer's life and work for many years, throwing light on all thirty-seven of his paintings. The book was designed by Irma Boom, the ‘Queen of Books’, and printed on an uncoated ‘Munken Print White’ paper, specially commissioned to ensure the veracity of colours. Irma Boom says: ‘the matte paper brings you closer to Vermeer; there is no gloss or glare in between, just like with the real works.’ With a wide selection of contextual illustrations, commentaries and up-to-date research by distinguished international Vermeer scholars, this is the definitive volume on the most admired of all seventeenth-century Dutch masters. With contributions byBart Cornelis, National Gallery, LondonBente Frissen, Rijksmuseum, AmsterdamSabine Pénot, Kunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaPieter Roelofs, Rijksmuseum, AmsterdamFriederike Schuett, Staedel Museum, Frankfurt am MainChristian Tico Seifert, National Galleries of Scotland, EdinburghAriane van Suchtelen, Mauritshuis, The HagueGregor J.M. Weber, Rijksmuseum, AmsterdamMarjorie E. Wieseman, National Gallery of Art, Washington

The successor to the international bestseller Vermeer, featuring groundbreaking research on the Dutch master. Even 350 years after his death, Johannes Vermeer remains an inexhaustible source of fascination for art lovers and researchers alike. Closer to Vermeer provides a captivating analysis of research conducted during and after the Rijksmuseum’s blockbuster 2023 Vermeer exhibition. The book reveals new insights into Vermeer’s creative process, materials and painting techniques, exploring the meaning of his works and his evolving fame. It also addresses intriguing questions about the maps in his interiors, the role of the camera obscura, his choice of materials and newly discovered documents about his patrons. Richly illustrated, this book offers both art historians and passionate art lovers a unique glimpse into Vermeer’s life and work and serves as an essential reference for future research on Vermeer.