"Featuring wonderful illustrations, engaging prose, and a deep knowledge of the craft, this is a study in art history and methodology to delight an audience beyond just visual artists." - Kirkus, Starred Review "Artist Jane Jelley probed the issue pragmatically. Before assessing any use of camera obscura, she investigates the tools, materials and studio Vermeer was known to have used, and his virtuosic layering of paint." - Nature "I find this revelatory and wholly convincing. Jelley devotes a chapter to the history of art innovation, in a Netherlands that was the California of its day, and explores it in depth." - The Guardian "A fascinating exercise and assay, Traces of Vermeer (Oxford) serves as an elucidating technical accompaniment to the broader scope of Vermeer in Detail. Jelley's engaging prose is a boon to both scholars and casual art appreciators." - Politics & Prose "Traces of Vermeer, a meaty and intensely interesting new book by Jane Jelley.

Through her own understanding of the craft, she comes as close as anybody can to understanding both the mechanics and the inner lives of masterpieces like 'A Lady Writing,' 'Young Woman with a Water Jug,' 'A Woman Holding a Balance,' or 'Girl with a Pearl Earring.' And she's bluntly honest enough to acknowledge repeatedly that these investigations only reach so far." - Christian Science Monitor "First, it should be noted that her writing is elegant and clear, and she accurately summarizes much of the scholarly background on Vermeer, his home life, the Dutch Golden Age, and more. She has deep historical and practical knowledge of pigments, supports, and mixing practices likely used by Vermeer." - Leonardo "To be sure, Traces of Vermeer is an invitation for us to not only embrace Vermeer's world, but to also ask or decipher to what degree he may, or may not have used some sort of lens through a camera obscura." - David Marx Book Review "This is not another speculative Vermeer biography, a fill-in-the-gaps, guesswork life. This is Vermeer the painter, by a painter. Jelley's meticulous approach yields fascinating insights.

'" - Literary Review "Well-researched. vivid. fascinating." - Tablet "Magnificent." - Al Femminile "A fascinating approach that throws up a plethora of intriguing details that add to the texture of Vermeer's life and technique. Jelley's ingenious experiment offer[s] a plausible suggestion as to how he set about his magical paintings." - Sunday Times "Traces of Vermeer is an intriguing account of artistic practice. [Jane Jelley's] writing is fluid and poetic, and this publication is an enjoyable read, feeling like a detective story from the outset.

[the] discoveries made by the author in this book. give us valuable insights that will influence the way we view and interpret Vermeer's paintings and mysterious working practices." -- Laura Hinde, The Picture Restorer "An absolute delight. A rich and highly original exploration of Vermeer's life and work seen through the eyes of a practising painter." - Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe "Jane Jelley adds a unique perspective on Vermeer's techniques and style." - Johan Wagemans, University of Leuven.