And here's a really lovely thing that can happen when you go
to an art exhibit. You think you're going to see and appreciate one thing, and
then you discover and appreciation another thing for an entirely different
reason. Thus was my experience today at the National Gallery of Art. I went to
the exhibit "Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting" expecting to
see some Vermeers and a smattering of other Dutch artists of the latter part of
the 17th century. That did happen. Yet, I was delighted by the works of one of
those other painters in particular, one whom I'd never singled out before, and
in such an amazing way. How wonderful is that?
Frans van Mieris (1635 - 1681) was born in the same year as
Johannes Vermeer, and managed to live past him by 6 productive years. Nearly
all of his paintings included in this exhibition were small. Many would fit
within an 8" by 8" frame. Yet their detail in execution was stunning.
Dare I say, meticulously represented? Tiny item after tiny detail created with
pinpoint accuracy. My friend, Barbara, even commented as to what size brush
could accomplish such clarity on that small of a scale. Sometimes REALLY good
things do come in small packages!
 |
| "Woman Playing a Theory-Lute" 1663 National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh |
 |
| "Woman Writing a Letter by Candlelight" 1670 Private collection |
 |
| "Woman Sealing a Letter by Candlelight" 1667 Private collection |
 |
| "Woman Feeding a Parrot" 1663 The Leiden Collection, New York City |
 |
| "The Duet" 1658 Staaliches Museen Schwerin/Ludwigslust/Güstrow |
 |
| "The Doctor's Visit" 1657 Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna |
 |
| "Brothel Scene" circa 1658-59 Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague |
No comments:
Post a Comment