This slim volume on Vermeer contains all of his known paintings while excluding the well-known forgeries. Following a brief but informative introduction, each plate is presented in full colour, filling an entire page. A short description of each painting is provided on the opposite page, usually dealing with relevant history and technique but not providing over-much analysis.

I would strongly recommend this book as an introduction to Vermeer's work. It provides background but does not attempt complicated analysis of the artist or his paintings, leaving the reader free to formulate his or her own ideas about what the artist is saying. The quality of the prints is excellent. I can not speak to the quality of the colour reproduction (as does another reviewer) because I do not have the originals for side-by-side comparison but paintings such as A View of Delft, or The Milkmaid are sharp and vibrant.

While an art scholar might appreciate a more in-depth approach to this subject, I strongly recommend this to the casual reader or lover of art. For a very small price one can bask in the visual splendors of a master. ( )

Large, low cost, full page illustrations, insightful analysis of each painting, biographical details, historical context ( )