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Article: A box of tricks.
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- March 19, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: BRIAN SEWELL
VERMEER'S CAMERA: Uncovering the Truth behind the Masterpieces by Philip Steadman (Oxford, [pound]17.99)
THE most explicit 17th century description in English of the camera obscura was sent by Henry Wotton, diplomat, to Francis Bacon, philosopher, scientist and devious politician, in 1620, 12 years before Vermeer was born; it was of the little black tent that enabled Johannes Keppler, mathematician and astronomer to Emperor Rudolf II, to make a topographical survey of astonishing accuracy (and, by revolving the tent, to make a panorama), but he concludes with the observation that to paint landscapes with such a device would be ...