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(Andrew Graham-Dixon, Allen Lane, £30)
Graham-Dixon does an excellent job here of conveying his original and archival research into the life of Johannes Vermeer, with the Dutch artist and his works carefully considered in the context of the time and place in which he lived.
Graham Dixon is well-known for his analysis of paintings in terms of their allegorical significance, and duly picks up on a whole host of small details which certainly I, and I suspect many others would hardly notice after detailed study, never mind at first glance.
That said, some of his suggestions, critiques and assertions can seem like a bit of a stretch at times. Are we really to believe, for example, that a distinctly unbiblical figure is, in fact, meant to represent Mary Magdalene? Quibbles aside, however, there’s plenty of nourishing food for thought to be found in this sumptuously illustrated book. Recommended.
This review was first published in Teach Secondary magazine.
Original version
This is the copy I submitted to the Editor.
It came as quite a surprise to me that until relatively recently Vermeer was hardly known. Dixon does an excellent job of conveying the results of his original – as well as archival – research into the life of the artist. Importantly, the artist and his works are considered in the context of the time and place in which he lived. Andrew Graham Dixon is well-known for his analysis of paintings in terms of their allegorical significance. He picks up on small details which I suspect many of us would hardly notice, such as a globe with India facing us. However, some of his suggestions, and in some cases assertions, seem a bit of a stretch. Are we really to believe, for example, that a very unbiblical figure is, in fact, meant to represent Mary Magdalene? Nevertheless, there is plenty of food for thought, and the book is sumptuously illustrated. Recommended.
You can also see the original copy I submitted to the Editor, of this and other reviews, here: