"When I saw a View of Delft in the museum in the Hague, I knew I had seen the most beautiful painting in the world" wrote Proust to one of his friends in 1921. Many would concur with this opinion: Vermeer's art has a special power to reach across the centuries and touch us as gently as the sunlight touches the cheek of a young girl in his masterly paintings.

This book explores the creative influences that determined Vermeer's style. It also examines the cultural milieu in which he worked: the Netherlands, racked by war, but nevertheless proud of its tradition of freedom of expression, which meant it was home to many intellectuals of the period. Vermeer himself was from a modest background, but came to be one of the foremost innovators in terms of artistic technique of his century. The Little Book of Vermeer explains the role of the pigments, canvases and other materials he chose to use in his creative activity, as well as his contributions to the visual aspects of composition, including his famous experiments with a "dark room", which prefigure photography by

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Flammarion presents its series of informative, richly illustrated guides, covering lifestyle and cultural topics. Find out everything you want to know about your favorite subject in one handy volume.

• Unique thematic treatment with extensive use of key words and cross-referencing
• Over 70 alphabetically organized bite-sized entries in every title
• Attractive slimline format
• 100 color illustrations
• Summaries of key facts and dates in easy-reference tables
• Exclusive buyer's guide or list of useful addresses to find out more