Synopses & Reviews
In this fascinating exploration of Jan Steen's The Drawing Lesson, John Walsh offers an explanation of the individual parts and larger patterns of the work, allowing us to see how each prop and pose contributes to the larger theme--the art of painting and the education of the artist. He also recounts Steen's career and the history of the picture itself, presenting, in sum, not only an examination of a fine painting but also a lesson in how to look at and "read" a complex work of art.
Synopsis
This series introduces individual works or small groups of closely related works in the Museum's collections to a broad public. Each monograph includes a close discussion of its subject as well as a detailed analysis of the broader context in which the work was created, considering relevant historical, cultural, and chronological issues.
About the Author
John Walsh has been Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum since 1983. Previously, he was curator of paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. In addition to articles in such publications as
The Connoisseur and
Burlington Magazine, he is the author of several exhibition catalogues including
A Mirror of Nature with Cynthia P. Schneider.