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Vermeer's Hat

The seventeenth century and the dawn of the global world
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( 2,610 ratings, 285 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Vermeer's Hat by Timothy Brook explores the global connections of the 17th century through the detailed analysis of several paintings by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. Each piece of art serves as a portal to historical events, illustrating the interconnectedness of cultures and the impact of trade, exploration, and colonial expansion during this period. The book offers a fascinating insight into how these international exchanges shaped the modern world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the intriguing connections between art, history, and global trade in the 17th century. This captivating read explores objects in paintings to reveal the hidden stories of the past, delving into the broader world of exploration and cultural exchange. It's perfect for those who appreciate a blend of art history with a rich narrative of global history.

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An outstanding work of history on a highly popular painter.

As a record-breaking, rapturously reviewed exhibition at the Rijksmuseum gathers together more paintings by Vermeer than have ever been shown in the same place, Vermeer's Hat is a fascinating examination of the world in which the Old Master painted.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In one painting, a Dutch military officer leans toward a laughing girl. In another, a woman at a window weighs pieces of silver. In a third, fruit spills from a porcelain bowl onto a Turkish carpet. The officer's dashing hat is made of beaver fur, which European explorers got from Native Americans in exchange for weapons. Beaver pelts, in turn, financed the voyages of sailors seeking new routes to China. Thereβ€”with silver mined in Peruβ€”Europeans would purchase, by the thousands, the porcelain so often shown in Dutch paintings of the time.

Vermeer's haunting images hint at the stories behind these exquisitely rendered moments. As Timothy Brook shows us in Vermeer's Hat, these pictures, which seem so intimate, actually open doors onto a rapidly expanding world.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Timothy Brook's Vermeer's Hat is praised as an enlightening and imaginative exploration of the early global age, using Vermeer's paintings as a doorway into this historical period. Critics highlight its ability to reveal the interconnectedness of the world at that time, offering both intimacy and insight through a vivid narrative. The book is lauded for its storytelling brilliance, surprising connections, and the illumination of deeper meanings in the artwork.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781846681202

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 July 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Profile Books Ltd

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 220g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Timothy Brook holds the Shaw Chair in Chinese Studies at Oxford University. He is the author of many books, including the awkward-winning Confusions of Pleasure.

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