The mystery underlying Vermeer's use of light and perspective has led to an almost cult-like appreciation of this in many ways mystifying artist. Vermeer profiles the life and works of the distinguished seventeenth-century artist, analyzes him within the context of other artists of the period, and examines how his social origins and domestic environment shaped his work. Though he was a modestly successful painter/art dealer who was well-respected in Delft, Vermeer never gained much of a reputation outside his hometown and was forgotten almost entirely after his death. In the nineteenth century he was "rediscovered," and since the beginning of the twentieth has been considered one of the finest painters ever. In this impressive and informative work, the artist's origins and home environment are revealed and his paintings are displayed and discussed within the context of time alongside a history of the influences and repercussions of this master's art. This lavishly illustrated and beautifully bound edition includes reproductions of all of Vermeer's paintings, many of the works of his contemporaries, and documents relating to his life and city, Delft.