re Vermeer and artists - 60 minutes "did they use mirrors?"

[greyl]

now

[greyl]

1. there was a post last week about Vermeer

and theories of his Camera Obscura technique...

http://www.grand-illusions.com/vermeer/vermeer1.htm

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Wow fascinating article

This is the first I have heard of the artist. So sad to realize that someone so on the cutting edge of technique could have lived and died unnoticed.

[rogerashton]

5. Vermeer? Unnoticed?

http://www.cacr.caltech.edu/~roy/vermeer/

lists several websites, books, etc.

[roughsatori]

3. I have been enamored of Vermeer's paintings

since I was a child, and am facinated by the use of camera obscura so that was a great link--thanks.

[NJCher]

4. glad I saw this a 2nd time

First time they showed it I was doing something else and didn't catch it all. Makes eminent sense to me. What convinced me was the high number of left-handed people. Why, even left-handed monkeys!


Cher

[nuxvomica]

6. I saw it and was a little surprised at the controversy

I knew Leonardo used the camera obscura and I figured everyone in the Renaissance did. The art historian did have a point about realism and culture. The Ancient Greeks and Romans produced remarkably realistic art. Even some prehistoric cave paintings are very naturalistic. They all probably used optical technology. But in between these periods, the imagery was more stylized. That must definitely be an effect of culture. I think the technology to achieve realism has always been around but different cultural influences inspire different levels of realism in art.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. David Hockney has a book out about this, too

apparently somewhat controversial when it came out in 2001. It's an interesting read.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670030260/qid=1059961810/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-5757719-0566329

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0670030260.01._PE30_PIdp-schmoo2,TopRight,7,-26_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[blondeatlast]

8. Van Eyck used it for sure, if it was really used.

His paintings are almost photographic in detail.

While I don't buy into Hockney's theory, I was a bit astounded by the "timeline" Hockney had. There was a definitive shift approaching the 1400s.

I LOVE art history!

[Aristus]

9. Vemeer was fairly well known in his lifetime,

but not a phenomenon. Don't know why. "The Milkmaid" is one of the most beautiful paintings I've ever seen.

[WCGreen]

10. I was fascinated by the whole piece.....

And I have to agree, even if optics were used, you can;t take away the artisitc eye that produced the colors, the tinting, the shadows and the backgrounds........

My favorite time period.

Blew away the two dimensional and highly stylized art of the late medaeval period......

[blondeatlast]

11. I love the late medieval period as well, especially the religious art.

That style is still widely used in India (hubby's Indian). I find it a bit disconcerting, but I think that is part of its charm.