An excellent (and
educational) movie for those interested in museum art. It does not,
however, discuss the issue of why an EXACT copy of art painted by "the
masters", years ago, is worth much, much less than the original.Edited From Promotional material:
Tim Jenison, a wealthy Texas based inventor of TV and graphic systems, (Video Toaster, LightWave, TriCaster) attempts to solve one of the mysteries in art world: How did 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer ("Girl with a Pearl Earring") manage to paint so photo-realistically . . . 150 years before the invention of photography?
Because Vermeer's paintings have been praised for their photo realistic look, various theories exist regarding how he was able to achieve such detail. One theory suggests that he made use of optical aids — mirrors, curved lens and so on to create his art. Inventor Tim Jenison was one of the subscribers to this theory.
Despite having no artistic training, Jenison believed that by following what he thinks were the Dutchman's methods, he would be able to produce similar results.
In a difficult research project, Jenison embarks on an effort to test his theory, and the results are as extraordinary as what he discovers. Spanning a decade, Jenison's adventure takes him to Delft, Holland, where Vermeer painted his masterpieces, on a pilgrimage to the North coast of Yorkshire to meet artist David Hockney and eventually to see Queen Elizabeth's Vermeer hanging in Buckingham Palace.
Watching a man painstakingly recreate an oil painting doesn't exactly sound like the basis for a winning documentary. But it is. Told in clear, accessible terms that a laymen can understand, Tim's Vermeer is a lively, intriguing look at the line between artist, inventor and reproducer of original art, one that challenges the very notion that the distinction should be made at all.
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