With precisely 35 canvases to his credit, the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer represents one of the great enigmas of 17th-century art. The meager facts of his biography have been gleaned from a handful of legal documents. Yet Vermeer's extraordinary paintings of domestic life, with their subtle play of light and texture, have come to define the Dutch golden age. His portrait of the anonymous Girl with a Pearl Earring has exerted a particular fascination for centuries--and it is this magnetic painting that lies at the heart of Tracy Chevalier's second novel of the same title.
Girl with a Pearl Earring centers on Vermeer's prosperous Delft household during the 1660s. When Griet, the novel's quietly perceptive heroine, is hired as a servant, turmoil follows. First, the 16-year-old narrator becomes increasingly intimate with her master. Then Vermeer employs her as his assistant--and ultimately has Griet sit for him as a model. Chevalier vividly evokes the complex domestic tensions of the household, ruled over by the painter's jealous, eternally pregnant wife and his taciturn mother-in-law. At times the relationship between servant and master seems a little anachronistic. Still, Girl with a Pearl Earring does contain a final delicious twist.
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (1 of 50), Read 68
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Sunday, March 05, 2000 05:32 PM
I loved this little gem of a book. It’s a fast read, smoothly and
impeccably written. My internal Copy Editor turned itself off and I
just breezed on thru. I loved the descriptions of the paintings,
since I know Vermeer’s work well, I could picture them in my mind
as I read.
I especially liked the conversation between Griet, the maid, and
Vermeer, where they discuss the colors seen in the white clouds,
and color in general. TC knows something about the way artists
see.
Ruth
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (2 of 50), Read 65
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@earthlink.net)
Date:
Sunday, March 05, 2000 08:21 PM
I just knew you would like this book, Ruth.
Sherry
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (3 of 50), Read 65
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
JoAnn Beach (quappelle@aol.com)
Date:
Tuesday, March 07, 2000 07:10 PM
I just noticed at the publisher's website that the cover of this
book has
been changed....wondering why.
Has anyone read Chevalier's first novel (pub. in England where she
lives)
called The Virgin Blue? I am sure that, with the success of
GWAPE, the earlier book will be re-released. I just ordered it
through ABE from a used bookstore in England.
This book left me hungry for more information about Vermeer - I
realize
little is known about him---and a great desire to see some of his
paintings in person. I think this author did a wonderful job in
portraying
the artist's world in that period of history, as well as the everyday
life in
Delft, yet without making the story a history lesson. She had a
very light
touch with the facts/details that she sprinkled throughout this
nove--the
details she offered the reader were intruiging ones.
I loved the way Chevalier maintained tension throughout the book,
tension
that was never resolved on a personal level: between Vermeer and
Griet,
between Griet and Vermeer's family. And then there was the more
general
tension: between the wealthy and the poor, between Catholic and
Protestant. She says that it is the tension that moves this plot
along.
The author made us feel the chaos of the Vermeer household -ye,
gods, I
could not have stood it--compared to the relative calm and quiet
of Griet's
household. I also liked the parallel between the blind father and
the
sighted artist---both needing their things in a particular place, but
for
such very different reasons. The father is blind because he sees
nothing
and Vermeer can be blinded by seeing too much--thus the use of
the
camera obscura, where he just looked at one detail of the scene
he was
painting, rather than at the whole.
BTW, I thought this was interesting (from an interview with
Chevalier):
The picture you paint of seventeenth-century Delft is very
convincing. Did you go there yourself to research the story?
"I did – I really hate to admit it but I was there for only four days.
I read a
lot of books, and I think more importantly I looked at a lot of
paintings.
There’s so much Dutch genre painting from that time – scenes of
domestic
interiors and taverns and things like that, that you really get a
picture of
what it was like.
"I’m not going to tell everyone to go and beat a path to Delft -
they don’t
even know where Vermeer’s house was exactly. They know the
corner it
was probably on, but now there’s a church there that was built in
the
nineteenth century. But there are some buildings that exist from
Vermeer's time – the town hall, the church, the meat hall, the fish
stalls
– and it’s a canal city and many of the houses were built in the
seventeenth century. So you do get a feel for it even if the his
actual house
is not there."
Did you study art history? Do you think it would have helped
in the
writing of the novel?
"I didn’t, no. It would have made a different book, and I’m not sure
it
would have helped. I talked to a few art historians when I was
researching
the book and I asked one what art historians would think of
making a novel
about Vermeer’s life, given that so little is known about him. She
said,
'Art historians are going to be so jealous of you, because all they
can
write about is what is actually there.'
"If I had been an art historian I think I probably would have felt
that I
couldn’t do it. One of the dangers of writing about this famous
image is
that it does trample over people’s expectations. Everybody looks
at that
painting and has their own idea, and now I’ve put it into words
and
published it, and a lot of people will like that, but some people will
s
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (4 of 50), Read 69
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
JoAnn Beach (quappelle@aol.com)
Date:
Tuesday, March 07, 2000 07:13 PM
I have no idea why the last lines of my post did not show up. This
is the
ending, which must be floating around out there in cyberspace:
"Everybody looks at that painting and has their own idea, and now
I’ve put
it into words and published it, and a lot of people will like that, but
some
people will say, 'How dare you do this?''"
JoAnn<
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (5 of 50), Read 60
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Peg Harrah (pegish@aol.com)
Date:
Wednesday, March 08, 2000 10:17 AM
JoAnn, enjoyed your insightful post on Girl With a Pearl Earring.
Amazing when one points out the comparisons/contrasts how
much more delightful the story becomes. I love these discussions
because it brings out so much more for me. I am a reader of the
straight story and need to work a little more to pick up the
symbolism of the work.
I was very involved in the artist's set up and the painting process.
The details of the set up, lighting, mixing of paints, etc. was
fascinating. And then Griet's quiet explanations of the paintings to
her father.
The Mask Carver's Son continues this art theme - along with a
ton of other stuff - but again the details of the different art forms
is interesting. Beginning with the choice of trees being cut down
to begin the process of making the mask to the chisels used.
Of course this is all done to embellish the story of the father/son
relationship.
Peg
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (6 of 50), Read 64
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Wednesday, March 08, 2000 01:18 PM
I just started this book, ordered it on the strength of the
descriptions in the first few posts in this thread. Already I know I
am going to like it very much. Griet is a wonderful character. And
the descriptions of Delft and the details of the houses makes me
think of Vermeer's paintings.
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (7 of 50), Read 70
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@earthlink.net)
Date:
Wednesday, March 08, 2000 02:47 PM
Felix,
I found this page that you might enjoy while you're reading the
book. It's all the paintings in the book:
http://www.pearlearring.com/paintings/index.html
Sherry
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (8 of 50), Read 69
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
JoAnn Beach (quappelle@aol.com)
Date:
Wednesday, March 08, 2000 03:22 PM
I loved that website, how the painting was matched with
Chevalier's
words!
And here is another---all of Vermeer's paintings with background
on
each:
http://www.cacr.caltech.edu/~roy/vermeer/thumb.html
JoAnn
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (9 of 50), Read 67
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Wednesday, March 08, 2000 06:03 PM
Sherry, what a great website. I gather it's TC's own. Here I was,
leafing back thru the book, trying to find references to paintings
so I could come up with something similar to paste here. Thanks
for finding this.
Ruth
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (10 of 50), Read 69
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Wednesday, March 08, 2000 08:21 PM
Oh, thank you both for the websites! I can see that the page for
the book follows the text very closely. I am slightly over halfway
through this book, so I must be careful not to find these paintings
and their citations from the book to be spoilers.
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (11 of 50), Read 54
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Friday, March 10, 2000 07:23 AM
While checking out the excellent website Sherry posted, put up by
Tracy Chevalier, I discovered that one Vermeer mentioned in the
book was stolen. Following up the link, I discovered that a huge
art theft took place in Boston in 1990, resulting in the theft of a
number of paintings, the Vermeer of "The Concert" as well as
several Rembrandts and other artists' works. Apparently this heist
has never been solved. The estimate of value mentioned in the FBI
bulletin was $300 million, but this is a guess, since these works are
irreplaceable.
Stealing works like these is almost sacrilege. Like stealing from
libraries, or churches. Some very wealthy persons or person has
deprived the rest of us of these paintings. Revolting.
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (12 of 50), Read 56
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@earthlink.net)
Date:
Friday, March 10, 2000 08:08 AM
I went to the museum in Boston where the Vermeer would have
been. I remember that a Rembrandt was stolen from there, but I
didn't remember about the Vermeer. I agree, Felix, about the "rich"
collector. I hope whoever it is eventually gets found out and
strung up by the thumbs and made to stare at paintings of
big-eyed children on velvet.
Sherry
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (13 of 50), Read 55
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Alison Cohen (alisonc995@aol.com)
Date:
Friday, March 10, 2000 08:17 AM
The Vermeer you spoke of, THE CONCERT, was stolen from the
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in the Fens section of Boston
along with two Rembrandts, five Degas, a Manet, a Flinck
landscape and a Shang Dynasty bronze beaker from three different
galleries within the museum.
The museum was built by a wealthy Bostonian who dispatched
Bernard Berenson to purchase art treasures for her. The museum
is a bit unusual -- it is an Italianate mansion with a soaring
four-story central atrium with changing floral exhibits. My favorite
has been the three story cascades of nasturtiums.
Isabella was a bit - uh - unusual. Her will specified that no
paintings could be moved or removed. It has taken court orders to
send paintings and tapestries to be repaired/restored. There are
some who believe that the theft itself broke the terms of Isabella's
will and should force the closure of the museum and the auctioning
off of all its treasures.
The thieves clearly knew what they wanted to steal and precisely
where they were located. There is conjecture that it was
bankrolled by some art lover content to keep the goodies hidden in
his private collection. They could never be sold on the open
market.
The spots where the paintings hung remain empty, with just
placards to tell you that he painting was stolen. There is a $5M
reward for the safe recovery of the paintings.
Two years before the theft, mystery writer Jane Langton used the
Gardner in a book entitled MURDER AT THE GARDNER. Ironically, in
an afterword, Langton said that the Gardner Museum is "wisely run
and superbly protected. None of the bad things here described
could possibly happen there."
Two enterprising art thieves proved they could.
Alison
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (14 of 50), Read 60
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Friday, March 10, 2000 11:08 AM
I think the thieves dressed as policemen. If I remember correctly,
they didn't have to break in, but were let in.
The Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum is one of the most fascinating
places I've ever been. Just imagine your slightly odd great-great
grandmother who collected bric-a-brac and whatnots to fill her
house and attic to overflowing. Now reincarnate her as very, very,
verrrrrrrrry rich.
Besides being cram-jock with all kinds of great art,the place is a
hoot, simply for its incredible mishmash of suits of armor, stained
glass, hunks of stone carving, marble doohickeys, brass
thingamajigs, carved furniture....
We must go there for Boston 2000.
Ruth
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (15 of 50), Read 59
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Friday, March 10, 2000 03:49 PM
Yes, Ruth, I think this museum should be on our tour. I knew
nothing about it until I followed the link to the FBI notice. The
thieves were let it, "against museum policy."
I like Sherry's idea about a fitting punishment for the "collector."
He/she should be condemned to read and re-read the collected
works of Rod McKuen(sp?), and nothing else the rest of his life, as
well.
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (16 of 50), Read 61
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Friday, March 10, 2000 04:02 PM
Alison,
I have read one or two of Jane Langston's mysteries. Didn't she
have one set in Concord? The story of the will and the court
orders necessary for cleaning the artwork is priceless. There
should be a book in that particular lady's life.
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (17 of 50), Read 59
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
JoAnn Beach (quappelle@aol.com)
Date:
Friday, March 10, 2000 09:31 PM
Alison wrote:" Isabella was a bit - uh - unusual. Her will specified
that
no paintings could be moved or removed. It has taken court orders
to send
paintings and tapestries to be repaired/restored. There are some
who
believe that the theft itself broke the terms of Isabella's will and
should
force the closure of the museum and the auctioning off of all its
treasures."
(By the way, I love to do research.....and have done some
below.....so
skip over the rest of this if you like...)
Isabella's will sounds like that of Dr. Albert Barnes of Philadelphia,
whose world-famous collection resides in a museum ---which was
never
meant to be as busy as it is, on a residential street.
From a website I found:
"The Barnes Foundation houses one of the finest collections of
early
French modern and post-impressionist paintings in the entire
world. An
extraordinary number of masterpieces by Renoir (180), Cezanne
(69),
and Matisse (60), provide a depth of work by these artists
unavailable
elsewhere. The collection includes works by Picasso, Seurat,
Rousseau,
Modigliani, Soutine, Monet, Manet, Degas and others Yet that is
only part
of this incredible collection. Art from every corner of the globe is
grouped with fine examples of antique furniture, ceramics,
hand-wrought
iron, and Native American jewelry. Breathtaking, priceless
examples of
art in all forms adorn these walls, but The Barnes Foundation is
much
more than an art collection. It is the vibrant reflection of a life
inspired
by humanity and creative expression."
http://www.redlandsfortnightly.com/barnes.htm
http://www.capitalresearch.org/ap/ap-1195a.html ---->>> this is
background and information about how Barnes wanted the gallery
run
after his death....most of the provisions of his will have been
violated.
http://www.libertynet.org/phila-visitor/art/b-man.html
Looking at Amazon, I see that there is a book about Gardner called
The
Art of the Scandal by Douglass Shand-Tucci which did not get
very
favorable reviews. An older biography called Mrs. Jack, by
Louise Hall Tharp, which is out of print, seems to be favored by
people
who reviewed The Art of the Scandal.
Here is a link to a site with interesting information:
http://www.boston.com/gardner/personal.htm
http://www.boston.com/gardner/history.htm
http://www.boston.com/gardner/mytharticle.htm
http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/arttheft/bosto
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (18 of 50), Read 69
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Theresa Simpson (theresa.a.simpson@gte.net)
Date:
Saturday, March 11, 2000 02:01 AM
This museum sounds like the Victoria and Albert in London, one of
my favorites.
I'm certainly not defending the thieves, but did they really deprive
the world of this art any more than if a very wealthy collector had
bought it and hidden it away? Yet I doubt very many would tsk,
tsk about that, and in fact most would take umbrage if such a
wealthy collector were forced to share his art with the public. So,
if you buy it, it's property to do with as you please; if you steal it,
you are depriving the world of something it has a right to view?
Did Isabella permit the public view her enormous collection while
she was still alive?
Theresa
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (19 of 50), Read 78
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@earthlink.net)
Date:
Saturday, March 11, 2000 07:07 AM
Very interesting viewpoint, Theresa. Remind me to hire you if I
ever get arrested for stealing something.
Sherry
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (20 of 50), Read 75
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Bob Markiewicz (bob markiewicz@aol.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 11, 2000 10:05 AM
One interesting bit of trivia and an aside re GIRL....
One of the things I wondered at was the regular imbibing of beer
at meals by the adolescent Griet and the Vermeer children. This
was solved for me when I read the recently published
TULIPOMANIA.
Because of the poor and often disease ridden water quality at that
time, beer was the drink of choice. It came in two strengths, one
mildy and almost non- alcoholic for everyday consumption and the
other for serious drunk making.
Also of note: GIRL arrived on the "Times" bestseller list today at
number twelve. I think the success of this small and lovely work is
one of the most heartening publishing success stories of recent
years.
Let's raise an alcoholic pint (or two) to Tracy Chevalier!
BOB
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (21 of 50), Read 78
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Theresa Simpson (theresa.a.simpson@gte.net)
Date:
Saturday, March 11, 2000 11:43 AM
Sherry, I will only defend you if you steal ART from a WEALTHY
person who is keeping it all to themselves; and only if your
purpose is to SHARE this ART with the world. And I'm not saying
this is ALL RIGHT, I'm just saying I will defend you.
Otherwise, you're on your own (but talk to Steve . . .)
Theresa
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (22 of 50), Read 74
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Saturday, March 11, 2000 12:16 PM
Theresa, well, if a collector buys something legitimately at least
we know where it is. And museum directors do, too, so they can
solicit the collector to leave it with them on long term loan (many
do) and/or leave it to the museum in their will (many do that,
too). And even if it's in collector's bedroom it's usually available to
be photographed.
Ruth
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (23 of 50), Read 74
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Pres Lancaster (plancast@slip.net)
Date:
Saturday, March 11, 2000 12:37 PM
From Ruth's 3/10 post:
The Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum is one of the most fascinating
places I've ever been. Just imagine your slightly odd great-great
grandmother who collected bric-a-brac and
whatnots to fill her house and attic to overflowing. Now
reincarnate her as very, very, verrrrrrrrry rich.
Besides being cram-jock with all kinds of great art,the place is a
hoot, simply for its incredible mishmash of suits of armor,
stained glass, hunks of stone carving, marble doohickeys, brass
thingamajigs, carved furniture....
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I've been there and this is a perfect description of the Gardner
museum. Especially, "marble doohickeys, brass thingamajigs".
I've also been to the Barnes Foundation, now open to the public,
once only open to "approved" art people - students and
worshippers. IMHO, the collection is over rated, but perhaps I
would think differently if the works were less jammed together,
side by side and top to bottom, in a LOOK WHAT I'VE GOT
manner.
The Foundation is in what once was an elegant suburb - an
"estated" area. I am sure that Mr. Barnes' now neighbors are
furious about the traffic in their sylvan dale. I would be if I ever
achieved such a state.
Pres
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (24 of 50), Read 75
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Beatrice Soila (bpsoila@aol.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 11, 2000 12:41 PM
I think they did a travelling show of at least part of the Barnes
Collection a while back. It stopped at the National Gallery and I
had the chance to see it. It might not be the greatest collection
in the world, but it was mighty refreshing to see a group of
first-class impressionist paintings that hadn't been reproduced to
death. Before that show, I was unaware that Cezanne had done
any, let alone several, still lifes with skulls.
Bea
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (25 of 50), Read 77
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Beatrice Soila (bpsoila@aol.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 11, 2000 12:38 PM
Does anybody remember the time that Japanese "art
lover"/collector said he was going to put the Van Gogh he owned
on his funeral pyre? I don't know if he actually did it or not. I
remember thinking he should sell the painting and burn the money.
Bea
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (26 of 50), Read 71
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Sunday, March 12, 2000 03:26 PM
Yes, the Barnes did have a travelling show. It's what they did with
the art whilst cleaning house, but it met with great resistance and
controversy among the board members. Like the Gardner, the
Barnes operates under the conditions of a restrictive will.
I never heard of the Burn-the-Van-Gogh guy, but I loved your
comment about burning the $$ instead.
Ruth
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (27 of 50), Read 71
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Sunday, March 12, 2000 03:37 PM
What a lot of interesting posts about the pros and cons of art
theft! Since the Gardner collection pieces stolen in the big heist
have apparently never been shown or acknowledged by their illicit
possessor(s), I would have to say that the theft was a crime
against humanity in general. The idea that the thieves were
striking a blow against oppressive, rich collectors (probably they
raised a clenched fist salute as they "liberated" the Vermeer, etal,
from the elitist milieu of the Gardner) does not appeal to me.
Having now finished the book, what does seem appropriate to me
is that the Vermeer stolen was commissioned by a thoroughly
venal and corrupt Netherlandish capitalist, who appeared in the
painting with his back turned because he was ignorant of the
correct way to hold a lute. (this interpretation depends on the
accuracy of Tracy Chevalier's reconstruction of the identity and
character of the patron.)
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (28 of 50), Read 74
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Sunday, March 12, 2000 04:25 PM
I enjoyed this book a great deal. I found especially interesting the
treatment of the question of artistic responsibility. Is the artist
responsible to social and moral concerns while creating works of
art?
At one point in the book, van Leeuwenhoek warns Griet against
the essentially amoral artistic sensibility of Vermeer. Vermeer's
eyes are worth gold, his friend says, but Griet must watch that
she does not lose herself in Vermeer's creations. Vermeer's actions
at the end of Griet's stay with his family demonstrate the validity
of van Leewuwenhoek's warning.
Griet must also come to terms with the limited outlet for her own
artistic facets in seventeenth-century Holland. The social
structure would not allow a woman, especially a woman of the
servant class, to aspire to artistic expression. Griet may contribute
valuable input to Vermeer's paintings, but she remains outside the
world he (or any artist) creates.
In regard to the connection (if any) between artistic worth and
social and personal values, I am reminded of my favorite Faulkner
story. Faulkner, a cyclical drunk, began to slide into one of his
benders the week before his only child, Jill, was to have her
"sweet sixteen" birthday party. As the child of unconventional
parents in a decidely conventional town, Oxford, MS, Jill was
depending on this party to enhance her social stauts.
Jill approached the Great Man several days before her party was
to be held. If Faulkner continued in his pattern, nobody would
have time that weekend to deal with the party. Everything
stopped for "Mr. Bill" while he was drunk. Jill timidly asked her
father if he could hold off total alcoholic collapse until after her
party. Faulkner's response, delivered with a basilik stare, was:
"Nobody remembers Shakespeare's daughters."
Nice guy.
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (29 of 50), Read 80
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Theresa Simpson (theresa.a.simpson@gte.net)
Date:
Sunday, March 12, 2000 04:40 PM
Now, now. I didn't mean to imply that I thought these thieves
were Robin Hoods of the art world. What I was trying to address
was whether there was any qualitative difference between a
painting hidden away by a wealthy collector, and a painting stolen
and hence unavailable to the public, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW of
public access to the art. I think Ruth understood me, and
addressed the issue (you go, girl!)
What about artistic treasures smuggled out of third world
countries by admirers from a wealthier world? Should there be
restrictions on such (well, there are, though very difficult to
enforce.) What about the argument that this serves to preserve
the art, which might otherwise have been destroyed (e.g., Elgin
Marbles, though I would say this was historical happenstance, as
they could very easily have been destroyed by a German bomb
during WWII, and then the Brits wouldn't be able to rely on this
particular justification.) Versus the right of a group to retain
artifacts which reflect their own cultural heritage.
The San Francisco art museum I worked for briefly worked out
what I thought was a good compromise over ownership of some
beatiful, ancient Mexcian murals, which they received through a
will. SF got to display the murals first (along with artifacts lent by
Mexican museums, and it was a great exhibit); I think they settled
on joint ownership, but the murals were to reside in Mexico.
In case you can't tell, I'm very interested in this issue. In fact, I
wrote my note on the topic when I was in law school.
Theresa
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (30 of 50), Read 85
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Sunday, March 12, 2000 04:58 PM
"artistic treasures smuggled out of third world countries by
admirers from a wealthier world?"
I used to use this very issue to foment discussion when I was
teaching art history, Theresa. I used the Elgin marbles as a
springboard and tried to get the students arguing amongst
themselves, then I followed it up with an essay question on the
next exam. I didn't care which side of the issue they took, as long
as it was well-argued.
And to this day, damned if I know the answer to the question.
Ruth
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (31 of 50), Read 83
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Sunday, March 12, 2000 05:16 PM
I would certainly take umbrage if a collector who legally owned a
work of art kept it out of public view. The nature of a painting,
sculpture or other physical artistic object is to be vulnerable to
sequestration, legal or otherwise. The moral question certainly
obtains whether or not the "collector" has legal title.
Looking at the reproduction of the GWAPE on the dust jacket, with
its cracked surface, raises the question of what to do to preserve
such treaures, subject to physical as well as legal removal from
the public. Someday all of Vermeer's works (as well as all other
paintings) will decay beyond restoration, and only prints will
remain. Having seen the difference between the original and the
reproduction (alas, only occasionally, so few museums in my
corner of the world), I am grateful that some artistry, such as
literature, is independent of physical decay.
Of course, there will come a time when the English language
changes enough that only a few scholars will be able to appreciate
the poetry of Shakespeare. But at least at no point will collectors
or thieves be able to keep his works from us until then.
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (32 of 50), Read 78
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
JoAnn Beach (quappelle@aol.com)
Date:
Sunday, March 12, 2000 06:51 PM
Yes, Pres, there is a constant hue and cry by the neighbors of the
Barnes
Foundation. Traffic is awful in that area...never meant for the kind
of
commerce that occurs there now.
And, yes, there was a traveling show of some of Barnes' collection
a while
ago--to raise money to do some refurbishing, I believe. Some of
the
trustees threatened to go to court over the exhibit.
We went to a traveling Cezanne show at the Philadelphia Museum
of Art
about 3 years ago, an "important" show, with people coming from
all over
the country. The odd thing was that the Barnes foundation has
more pieces
by Cezanne than were in this show!
Barnes sure was one odd duck...he and Isabella would have made
quite a
pair.
I think it is sad when a private collector owns a beautiful piece of
art that
the world never sees, but that is the name of the game of
ownership, I'm
afraid. Does one have a moral or ethical responsibility to publicly
show
something that s/he owns just because it is considered art?
JoAnn.
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (33 of 50), Read 80
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Alison Cohen (alisonc995@aol.com)
Date:
Sunday, March 12, 2000 09:04 PM
Isabella Stewart Gardner built Fenway Court specifically to house
her collection and to be open to the public. She had her own
private quarters on the fourth floor -- which remain off limits to
the general public.
It seems she turned her attention to art collecting after the death
of her only child. She certainly had the money to indulge her
passion and relatively little scruple about removing the treasures
from the countries of origin.
If you are curious enough to push aside the little curtains on the
bookcases, you just might catch sight of a first edition of Dante's
Inferno.
As for her tchotchkes -- would that we all had enough of an
estate to afford just one.
Alison
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (34 of 50), Read 50
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Karen Mikhail (kmbookworm@hotmail.com)
Date:
Monday, March 13, 2000 10:51 AM
I read this book in two sittings on Saturday. It was fantastic!
I also love the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It is only a block
from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, so it would be possible to
visit both if anyone is so inclined.
The MFA is going to have a special exhibit during the time
everyone is going to be here. It is an exhibit called Van Gogh Face
to Face and is all portraits by Van Gogh. These special exhibits
tend to sell out for weekends, so I'll let you know when the tickets
go on sale to the public (I don't think they are available until
May). As a member, I get a free ticket and will probably go see
the exhibit during the members only viewing in July, so I'll give you
a preview of the exhibit also.
Another special thing about the MFA is the murals by John Singer
Sargent which are painted on the ceiling.
Karen
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (35 of 50), Read 48
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Gail Singer (gailsinger_gross@hotmail.com)
Date:
Tuesday, March 14, 2000 09:43 PM
greetings to all... who have made my mouth water...in wanting to
obtain the book and attend the museum in BOSTON..
tu tu KAREN...i would definitely want to secure a ticket in
advance....
such treasure in BOSTON...need to get there early to soak it all
in..
a thousand thanks for all the information... JOANN and all.
gail..a passionate reader anticipating BOSTON for the first time...
and then on to QUEBEC CITY.....BOSTON OR BUST!! 2000!
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (36 of 50), Read 45
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Karen Mikhail (kmbookworm@hotmail.com)
Date:
Friday, March 17, 2000 10:26 AM
My in person book club chose GWAPE as the selection for next
month. (Does anyone else picture Elmer Fudd trying to say 'grape'
when they see that acronym)?
Today is the 10th anniversary of the theft of the paintings from
the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum.
When I visited the library this week, I ran into The Art of Scandal:
The Life and Times of Isabella Stewart Garnder by Douglass
Shand-Tucci. I did check it out, but haven't started reading it yet
(I'm desparately trying to finish Great Expectations and Jack
Maggs). Here's the Amazon.com reveiw: "For decades Isabella
Stewart Gardner has been described variously as a Brahmin
eccentric, a patron of the arts, a footnote to Henry James's
career, and the woman who founded a small, but elegant museum
in Boston, Massachusetts. But Douglas Shand-Tucci, in The Art of
Scandal, gives readers a new portrait of Gardner that vibrantly
brings her and her world to life. There have been other biographies
of Gardner, but Shand-Tucci's is distinctive because he positions
Gardner as the center of a late 19th-century cultural
world--including Henry James, Elsie De Wolfe, and John Singer
Sargent--that formed the beginnings of what we now understand
to be an emerging gay male identity and sensibility. As such, The
Art of Scandal is a major contribution to gay history as well as an
important biography of an often misunderstood and
underappreciated cultural figure."
Karen
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (37 of 50), Read 51
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Dottie Randall (randallj@ix.netcom.com)
Date:
Friday, March 17, 2000 04:24 PM
Karen -- I think your GWAPE acronym for this one is definitely
reminiscent of Fudd but technically the acronym would be GWTPE
wouldn't it?
Dottie -- thinking of the carrots in the fridge and nice juicy grapes
and Bugs Bunny -- hmmm -- perhaps I have a menu forming here?
ID is an oxymoron!
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (38 of 50), Read 57
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Bob Markiewicz (bob markiewicz@aol.com)
Date:
Friday, March 17, 2000 06:20 PM
{ but technically the acronym would be GWTPE wouldn't it? }
No, it wouldn't. It's "a."
BOB
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (39 of 50), Read 55
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Dottie Randall (randallj@ix.netcom.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 03:37 AM
My sincere apologies to Karen if I caused her any offense with my
response to her post.
In rereading this entire thread -- I see where the title has been
"A" and "the" back and forth and no one has ever corrected
anyone previously nor -- obviously -- has anyone corrected the
title in the Topic line. My remark was simply based on the
assumption that the correct word was in the Topic line.
If this has been really troubling you, Bob, you should have drawn
attention to it much sooner! We try to have title correct in the
Topic lines -- truly we do!
Dottie -- with the "my mistake, your error" quip running through
her brain
ID is an oxymoron!
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (40 of 50), Read 54
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@cdc.net)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 07:39 AM
As to the earring, definite or indefinite article, the really
interesting point is the insistence by Vermeer on having Griet wear
two earrings, even though only one shows in the painting.
Of course, this is a novel, nobody ever got Vermeer's take on this
subject. I think it is Chevalier's interpretation of the artistic
sensibility. In order to paint one earring, Vermeer has to know that
the other one is there. A bit hard on Griet, having to pierce a
second ear on the spot, but van Leeuwenhoek does warn her
about Vermeer. He only sees the painting, not the person.
Regards from the valley,
Felix Miller
I thought I had life solved. But there was a flag on the play.
-Charles M. Schulz
Topic:
Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier/Isabella Gardner
Museum/Art Thieves/Does the Public Own Art? (41 of 50), Read 53
times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Dottie Randall (randallj@ix.netcom.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 07:44 AM
Vermeer sounds intriguing all right!
ID is an oxymoron!
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (42 of 50), Read 54 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@earthlink.net)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 07:55 AM
Or at least Chevalier's take on Vermeer sounds interesting. I
suppose it was my mistake up in the topic line. Sorry folks.
Shouldn't type from (bad) memory.
Sherry
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (43 of 50), Read 56 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Bob Markiewicz (bob markiewicz@aol.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 09:01 AM
Being as I hadn't posted in the thread, Dottie, it would have been
a tad obnoxious to do so for the sole purpose of correcting what
has been a common mistake.
There are plenty of legitimate things I prefer to save "obnoxious"
for.
Bob
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (44 of 50), Read 62 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Ann Davey (davey@tconl.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 10:57 AM
Huh?
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (45 of 50), Read 47 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
JoAnn Beach (quappelle@aol.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 12:41 PM
The only book I see at Amazon that is about Vermeer himself, and
not just
a critique of his paintings, is called Vermeer and his Milieu: A
Web of
Social History by John Michael Montias. I think this would be a
great
follow-up to Girl With a Pearl Earring.
Book Description from Amazon:
This book is not only a fascinating biography of one of the
greatest
painters of the seventeenth century but also a social history of
the
colorful extended family to which he belonged and of the town life
of the
period. It explores a series of distinct worlds: Delft's Small-Cattle
Market, where Vermeer's paternal family settled early in the
century;
the milieu of shady businessmen in Amsterdam that recruited
Vermeer's
grandfather to counterfeit coins; the artists, military contractors,
and
Protestant burghers who frequented the inn of Vermeer's father in
Delft's
Great Market Square; and the quiet, distinguished "Papists Corner"
in
which Vermeer, after marrying into a high-born Catholic family,
retired
to practice his art, while retaining ties with wealthy Protestant
patrons.
The relationship of Vermeer to his principal patron is one of many
original discoveries in the book.
JOANN
(can you tell that I am buying books online today?)
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (46 of 50), Read 46 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Dottie Randall (randallj@ix.netcom.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 01:01 PM
Bob said --QUOTE!!!!!: 'Being as I hadn't posted in the thread,
Dottie, it would have been a tad obnoxious to do so for the sole
purpose of correcting what had been a common mistake.
There are plenty of legitimate things I prefer to save "obnoxious"
for."
FUNNY -- but if you hadn't posted PREVIOUSLY then your post to
me concerning the fact that I had a miscue in my reply to Karen
seems to me to have been made SOLELY for the purpose of telling
me that I was in error and thus pointing out the error in general
for whatever reason -- regardless of how much you may be
saving up "obnoxious" for!!!
Just making an observation on th fine points of defined
obnoxiousness here.
Dottie
ID is an oxymoron!
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (47 of 50), Read 47 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Bob Markiewicz (bob markiewicz@aol.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 02:56 PM
>FUNNY -- but if you hadn't posted PREVIOUSLY then your post to
me concerning the fact that I had a miscue in my reply to Karen
seems to me to have been made SOLELY for the purpose of telling
me that I was in error
Au contaire, Dot, I was telling you that your witty Fuddism,
GWAPE, was correct.
BOB, who always ac-cen-chu-ates the positive.
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (48 of 50), Read 44 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Dottie Randall (randallj@ix.netcom.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 06:15 PM
Except for one thing, Bob, I was telling Karen whose witty Fuddism
GWAPW 'weally' was that it should be GWTPE and you pointed out
that I was incorrect because it really was GWAPE.
SO-OOOOO -- how about you really do ac - cen - chu -ate the
positive here and call a truce?
Dottie -- who felt bad calling you on this one - except that I DO
step out of the Goody Two Shoes persona when I need to do so!
ID is an oxymoron!
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (49 of 50), Read 48 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Bob Markiewicz (bob markiewicz@aol.com)
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2000 07:11 PM
If you tell a woman she's right and the woman tells you (naturally)
you're wrong, is the woman still right, or does that make her
wrong?
BOB, who will feel better when his pizza arrives
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (50 of 50), Read 48 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Dottie Randall (randallj@ix.netcom.com)
Date:
Sunday, March 19, 2000 06:33 AM
Hey, Bob -- why worry? Enjoy your pizza! And read a good book!
Dottie
ID is an oxymoron!
Topic:
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (51 of 51), Read 6 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Gail Singer (gailsinger_gross@hotmail.com)
Date:
Sunday, March 26, 2000 11:47 PM
greetings to all in our UNIQUE COMMUNITY OF CR'S..
TONYA.. i found it and tons of thanks for the email:-)) you are a
gem!!!
GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING .. .this book is a LIFE
INTERRUPTER...from the inception you were transported to
another era and the intensity of the characters kept me reeling
and i could not wait to read...i am sure many of you could finish
the book in one day.. i took two days.... i love to walk around and
think about the characters.....
how HIGH I AM... nothing like a fine writer...goood story......tu
tu..!!!and all the excellent posts .. ..those museums in BOSTON
have my mouth watering....
again.. tu for this TREASURE!!!
.
gail..a passionate reader off to read DAUGHTER OF THE
RIVER...hong ying.. THE ORCHID THEIF.. susan orlean.. and
BETWEEN FATHER AND SON...v.s.naipaul...
YOU DON'THAVE TO READ EVERYDAY, just on those days that you
eat!!
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