Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 0789448505, Paperback)

Virtually unknown until the 19th century, Jan Vermeer is now considered one of the great Dutch artists, celebrated for his radiant, naturalistic light. Marvel at this 17th century painter's small but brilliant output and his masterful portrayal of domestic life and the interior. The DK ArtBook series presents both the life and works of each artist within the cultural, social, and political context of their time. To make the books easy to consult, they are divided into three areas -- the life and works of the artist, historical and cultural background, and analysis of major works -- which are identifiable by side bands. Each spread focuses on a specific theme, with an introductory text and several annotated illustrations. Few art history texts contain such abundance of full-color illustrations. The index section is also illustrated and gives background information on key figures and the location of the artist's works.