{"product_id":"thunderclap-a-memoir-of-art-and-life-and-sudden-death-hardcover","title":"Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eLaura Cumming\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e bestselling author and art critic Laura Cumming reveals the fascinating, little-known story of the Thunderclap--the massive explosion at a gunpowder store in Holland that killed Carel Fabritius, renowned painter of \u003ci\u003eThe Goldfinch \u003c\/i\u003eand nearly killed Johannes Vermeer, painter of \u003ci\u003eGirl with a Pearl Earring\u003c\/i\u003e--two of the greatest artists of the 17th century.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs a brilliant art critic and historian, Laura Cumming has explored the importance of art in life and can give us a perspective on the time and place in which the artist worked. Now, through the lens of one dramatic event in 17th century Holland, Cumming illuminates one of the most celebrated periods in art history. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In 1654, an enormous explosion at a gunpowder store devasted the city of Delft, killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands more. Among those killed was the extraordinary painter Carel Fabritius, renowned for his paintings \u003ci\u003eThe Goldfinch\u003c\/i\u003e and his haunting masterpiece \u003ci\u003eA View of Delft\u003c\/i\u003e, which depicts the very streets through which the victims would be carried to their graves. Fabritius's contemporary and rival Vermeer, painter of the iconic portrait \u003ci\u003eGirl with a Pearl Earring\u003c\/i\u003e, narrowly escaped death. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Framing the story around Fabritius's life, Cumming deftly 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 and Cumming has brought her unique eye to her most compelling subject yet. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Featuring beautiful full-color images of Dutch paintings throughout, this is a stunningly rich book about one of the most vibrant periods in European art and life.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.9 x 9.2 x 6.6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 11, 2023\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51772455387424,"sku":"9781982181741","price":32.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/091a26c9643d7279afdc87b388b270f5.webp?v=1780406062","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/thunderclap-a-memoir-of-art-and-life-and-sudden-death-hardcover","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}