Vermeer's Mania for Maps

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No other painter from 17th-century Holland expressed a greater interest in cartography than Jan Vermeer. His detailed depictions of maps and globes coincide with the great age of exploration and mapmaking. This lecture by the leading authority on Vermeer’s use of cartographic material demonstrates that all of the maps and globes in Vermeer’s paintings can be identified, though few originals still exist. These cartographic objects and the ways in which Vermeer used them not only add further meaning to his allegorical subjects and scenes of everyday life; they also shed light on Vermeer’s working method, including his possible use of the camera obscura.

[@flowermeerkat6827]

This presenter is amazing. I could listen to him all day!

[@JiveDadson]

The Allegory of Art is mesmerizing. I stood looking at it for a couple of hours. Streams of people walked right by.

[@coclo27]

Tim didn't use a dark room, or stand on his head in Tim's Vermeer. He used a lens and two mirrors. Tim sat at a table. Did he even see the film? Art Historical COPE.

[@ethanmilgram2327]

Simply fantastic! The information, the pace of the lecture, the paintings- all are great! I would have loved to have taken his course when in college, although I was too young then to fully appreciate it. Gary

[@GHutube8]

Met Jennison... (I was a computer guy) he was working in Topeka, Ks at the time. Polite, but very focused...normal for techies...

[@sgmorris8206]

James A. Welu, Director Emeritus of the Worcester Art Museum. Presented on 10 November 2016 at the Boston Public Library for for the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center in partnership with the Boston Map Society.

[@aryaswift8914]

Fascinating topic and engaging presentation. Would love to hear more!

[@aaroncameron2540]

Vermeer

[@lyndapoysor5573]

Very well presented, inspiring, pithy and intriguing. Your work is greatly appreciated, Thank you.

[@marjakeizer9580]

2.00 The reason for the massive tree cut in Holland was for agriculture and house building. The ship masts of the 17th century were made from pine trees, which specially for that purpose, were taken from Scandinavia to be planted in the Belgian Ardens, the German Eifel and the French region of Vosges.

[@iangalbraith1993]

Who knew maps could be so interesting? Well done 👏

[@txartchick5594]

Thank you sir for your eloquent speech and detailed depiction of Vermeer. The research, such detail.I hope you see this one fine day.Im an artist and suddenly I need to refine my work. 😁🎻

[@opera93]

Thanks, me too:: especially creating “ light” ……..how did you come out?.

[@magicjoeblack5761]

Overall, a sorbet of high mindedness. Besides the quibbles, a new reason to "nerd out" over the truly incomparable Vermeer, well, that's cause for celebration. Metaphorically Cheers.

[@lauraconnelly3232]

Wonderful lecture

[@farmerfox3332]

great presentation

[@injujuan8993]

Omg, I'm in love with this man!

[@aaroncameron2540]

Vermeer

[@GHutube8]

I lived in mass as a child. When we moved to Kansas, everyone (in mass) was scared about the Indians and the sod houses. Hmmm.. Kansas was WAY more modern, and the schools were much better. Nationally recognized. (They were WAY ahead of me) They were doing things I'd never heard of. I had to learn wher Iowa was... chuckle... Luv your talk. Luv Vermeer... been to Delft... seen the studio... GH

[@mydigitallife8311]

interesting to see the pictures. The artist used the props. Same chairs textiles. Very nice.

[@GHutube8]

Outstanding...!

[@jamesu1857]

Excellent work

[@GHutube8]

Was the guy in the blue/green robe one if his sailor (captain) friends ? Techies.... due to the "sailing". First seen with nav instruments... both globes..

[@stevelenores5637]

Rembrandt is art for the rich and powerful. Vermeer is art for the rest of us.

[@radionicpowers5938]

AT 50 minutes in, I will point out the figure (reported to now be known) as Anthony von Leeuwenhoek ( a Dutch businessman and scientist in the Golden Age of Dutch science and technology) posing as the Geographer (1669) & the Astronomer (1668)

[@allenvoss7977]

The camera obscurea and the use of a mirror it’s very possible.

[@solowbass]

I always suspected that seeing Vermeers low lifetime output of his own actual art, I believe he himself was making a living, drawing maps for cartogists. Think of the skill that is required in hand drawing such maps at the time with the medium available. Only an artist quality hand could do such a thing.

[@perozubac9752]

Kako si ti sreco dedina ? Ljubim Te i Lazara ! Ceka deki nurse , zbog lijekova ! I love you ! Ljubi Lazara !

[@imogen.magenta]

Can anyone tell me who the lecturer is and when the lecture took place??

[@AnnieShreffler]

Dr. James Welu delivered this talk at the Boston Public Library on Nov. 10, 2016. You can always find much more information on our website. Here is Dr. Welu's bio: forum-network.org/speakers/welu-james/

[@iamauntmeem]

@@AnnieShreffler Thank you, that was my first question, who is this lover of Vermeer?

[@mairepcod4063]

Thanks,

[@user-xx7dz8mm1w]

What is the name of the speaker?

[@edstud1]

I don't think vermeer painted using a camera obscura! Was Vermeer OCD?

[@Fidi987]

53:09 See, I would have wondered: did he get the maps cheap and use them because money was tight? 🙃

[@iamauntmeem]

No, Vermeer used the best of everything for his paintings.

[@user-kk7uv4qq7h]

لالا

[@JiveDadson]

I think it's quite likely that the girl with the earring was Vermeer's young teenaged daughter, playing dress up.

[@Sandra-og4ce]

No. This is a tronie, not a portrait of a real person.

[@divaden47]

Why do people use that really stupid expression 'from the getgo'??? What is wrong with simply saying 'from the start'??? Such laziness in grammar.

[@PrincessofErised]

Does this guy smoke? The constant throat clearing is troubling and annoying. The lecture is wonderful apart from that.

[@paulambry]

Yeah, it's a shame. After you hear it the first time, you can't un-hear it throughout the rest of the lecture.

[@robertdegroot8302]

I didn´t notice at all

[@iamauntmeem]

He sounds nasal, he keeps inhaling quickly through his nose to catch post-nasal drip and stifling a cough, he has a cold. He is weathering through this quite well!