350 year old "photographs" by Vermeer?

[faberryman]

I am in the Vermeer was an exceptional painter school. It doesn't take an over-active imagination, woodworking skills, and too much time on your hands to reach what is really a common sense conclusion. I have seen many Vermeer paintings in person, including the one in question, and while detailed, they are not photo-realistic, and there is no need for optical contraption conspiracy theories. Next thing you know someone is going to say Einstein built a secret computer to help him develop his theory of relativity.

 

[tezzasmall]

I don't want to take anything away from the artist's skill as a painter.

All I want to say is that I have bought the dvd mentioned in the original link's text and it is quite an amazing project and final painting that was finally made.

Terry S

 

[Nodda Duma]

Vermeer is well known in the optical design community and this particular painting has been studied in depth..the analysis is presented in optical design courses as an exercise in backing out the prescription of the lens used and distances to the objects in the original room. I don't recall off-hand the published paper, but you can find it by searching for Vermeer optics. It's absolutely fascinating that he was brilliant enough to use the tools available to him. The practical approach of a Rennaissance man only adds to his talent and skill as an artist. That is the common opinion held in the optical design community: Vermeer was awesome!

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/jan/28/tims-vermeer-fails

THAT article entirely missed the point of the experiment to determine how could Vermeer have created the perspective and color palette in the painting.

The point of the experiment was not how to mimic the work a master painter. (A subtle but distinct difference).