Golden Age of Dutch and Flemish Painting

"The Golden Age in Holland and Flanders saw incredible advances in the fields of commerce, science and art. Still lifes, landscapes and romantic depictions of everyday life became valued by wealthy Dutch merchants, while religious and historic paintings and portraits continued to appeal to the Flemish patronage. The Golden Age gifted the world some of the greatest masterpieces in history and this landmark volume showcases over 220 paintings reproduced to exceptional quality. The work of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens and Van Dyck are considered in exacting detail. However, Norbert Wolf's fascinating narrative also explores Frans Hals' revolutionary portraiture, Jan Brueghel's velvety miniatures, Adriaen Brouwer's depictions of the working class at play and Hendrick Avercamp's lively winter landscapes. Wolf applies his vast understanding of the interplay between history, culture and art to explore the forces that led to the Golden Age in Holland and how this period influenced later generations of artist. He considers the complex political, religious, social and economic situation that led to newfound prosperity and, thus, to the enormous artistic output that we continue to enjoy today. The large format of this exceptional volume allows for the paintings to be reproduced in extraordinary detail: colours pop from the pages; landscapes sing and expressions are vivid and revealing.