In 1654, an enormous explosion at a gunpowder store devastated the city of Delft, killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands more. Among those killed was the painter Carel Fabritius; his contemporary and rival Vermeer narrowly escaped death. Using Fabritius's life as a frame, Cumming weaves a sequence of observations about paintings and how they relate to everyday life. Like Dutch art itself, the story gradually links country, city, town, street, house, interior-- all the way to the bird on its perch, the blue and white tile, the smallest seed in a loaf of bread. The impact of a painting and how it can enter our thoughts, influence our views, and understanding of the world is the heart of this book. -- adapted from jacket
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