This lively portrait of the artist and his environment helps readers become acquainted with the life and times of Jan Vermeer. With only 37 known works, Vermeer s oeuvre affords readers an opportunity to become intimately acquainted with his paintings and with daily life in seventeenth-century Holland. Here readers will learn about the Golden Age of Dutch artistry, the culture and communityof Delft, and how Vermeer revolutionized the style and content of portraits and still-lifes. Written in an engaging, journalistic style and including full-color reproductions, thisvolume will give readers a glimpse into Vermeer s private life and the inspirations behind his paintings, giving insight into a genius whose work continues to intrigue us today.