Girl in hyacinth blue book

This new york times bestseller explores the life and many owners of an imaginary vermeer painting in an impressive debu. Girl in hyacinth blue is a lovely historical fiction with a twistthe tale is told backwards starting from the present and working its way back in time. Do you feel the author is focusing more on the role of art or the nature of life. The film was based on girl in hyacinth blue, a novel by author susan vreeland, and starred glenn close and ellen burstyn. Despite their many troubles and unsatisfied longings, the girl in hyacinth blue has the power to inspire love in all its human variety. Girl in hyacinth blue audiobook, by susan vreeland. Girl in hyacinth blue the new york times web archive. The paintingthis girl so simple in her dress and demeanorimmediately claims a space in each of her owners hearts and lives, as an intimate relationship is formed. The unnamed narrator of chapter 4, hyacinth blues, is a wealthy socialite who feels that she has been. Girl in hyacinth blue susan vreeland, 1999 penguin group usa 256 pp. The first edition of the novel was published in 1999, and was written by susan vreeland. Knowing nothing about art history, this means little to me. The girl in hyacinth blue proceeds backward in time, following the history of one vermeer painting, of a girl in a blue wrap, inside of an open window.

A professor invites a colleague from the art department to his home to view a painting he has kept secret for. Magdalena looking, which closes the book, reflects. Discuss the different ways in which the paintingthe girlspoke to her. Eight linked stories tracing the history of a painting by the 17th century dutch artist, vermeer. A most extraordinary painting in which a young girl wearing a short blue smock over a rustcolored skirt sat in profile at a table by an open window. Girl in hyacinth blue book hennepin county library. The girl in hyacinth blue, by susan vreeland, was a wellwritten, thought provoking and inspiring book. The book, the toy, the food, the paintingeach has become my own. Engelbrechts fathers dying words had been, an eye like a blue pearl, referring to the female figure in the painting, that of a young. Create the imaginary painting, girl in hyacinth blue, in pencil, paper mosaic, pastels, or paint. Girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland reading guide. The tenderness of expression on the girls girl in the painting face showed it was painted with intimacy and lovequalities missing, i supposed, in aletta pieterss life.

Then she wrote a beguiling novel about this canvas, which so closely resembles the 35. In susan vreelands girl in hyacinth blue, the star in the story is a johannes vermeer painting. Tracing the influence of one extraordinary picture on a succession of human lives, it touches gently yet thoughtfully on such weighty topics as the immortality of a great artwork and the ways in which art can be used for various ends. Reconstruct a night different from all other nights using anne franks character rather than. When a shy, privateschool math teacher, cornelius engelbrecht, discovers a canvas thought to be a vermeer, girl in hyacinth blue, a touching and beautifullywritten book, begins a fascinating journey back through time to trace the history of the painting.

A professor invites a colleague from the art department to. In susan vreelands gentle and beautiful new book, the ownership of a supposed vermeer painting is traced back to the moment of its inspiration. Set against the glorious backdrops of rome, florence, and genoa, and naples, peopled with historical characters and filled with the details of the life of a 17thcentury painter, the passion of artemisia is the story of gentileschis struggle to find love, forgiveness, and wholeness through her art. Read girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland available from rakuten kobo. Reading guide for girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland. The paintingthis girl so simple in her dress and demeanorimmediately claims a space in. Girl in hyacinth blue is a 2000 novel by susan vreeland consisting of eight interlinked short stories. I just finished reading susan vreelands novel girl in hyacinth blue. Like vermeers paintings, this novel illuminates the poignantly dear moments in.

Girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland, paperback. It followed the life of an imaginary painting by dutch painter johannes vermeer as it passes through the hands of various people. The painting has enormous value in the present, but as the novel proceeds back to the time when it was painted, its value rises and falls based on whether its owners know where it came from, and whether they see any value in art. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 242 pages and is available in paperback format. Susan vreeland is the new york times bestselling author of eight books, including clara and mr.

The line between memory and imagination was muddled by years of intense rumination, of horrified reading, one book after another devoured with carnivorous urgencyhistories, personal accounts, diaries, documents, war novelsand cornelius could not be sure now what parts hed read. In the painting, the girls mouth was slightly open, glistening at the corner, as if shed just had a thought that intrigued her, an effect that made her astoundingly real. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are. Compare and contrast hannah vredenburg and anne frank. Why would the author structure the novel in reverse chronology. What does girl in hyacinth blue suggest about the value personal and monetary and functionpurpose of art how does art serve us. Vreelands colorful portraits of dutch life, from the wealthy to the poorest peasants, spanning several hundred years, are fascinating. The painting has enormous value in the present, but as the novel proceeds back to the time when it was painted, its value rises and falls based on whether its owners know where it came from, and. I later met with the films staff in amsterdam to shoot the final photographs of the recentlycast actress who would play the part of vermeers daughter magdalena.

This painting seems to have a different effect on each of the owners. Magdalena looking, which closes the book, reflects the evanescence of the moments that paintings capture. A few thoughts on susan vreelands girl in hyacinth blue. The paintingthis girl so simple in her dress and demeanorimmediately claims a space in each of her owners hearts and lives, as an intimate relationship is. Susan vreeland imagined just such a humble domestic scene, suggested it was created in 17thcentury holland, and attributed it to jan vermeer. What are the advantages or disadvantages of telling the story this way. Reviewed by linda salisbury september october 1999. Vreelands wonderful second outing what love sees, 1996, not seen is a novel made of stories, each delving farther into the provenance of a vermeer painting, and each capturing a moment of life, much as the great painter did himself. Against these national characteristics she juxtaposes. Girl in hyacinth blue, the little gem of a novel that is a beautifully written exploration of the power of art parade, is now a hallmark hall of fame movie starring glenn close and ellen burstyn. Such is the case of the vermeer painting, girl in hyacinth blue, as described by author susan vreeland. The professor swears it is a vermeer but why has he hidden this important work for so long. Susan vreelands second novel, girl in hyacinth blue, may be a book about a painting, but it is never content with surfaces. Girl in hyacinth blue, by susan vreeland by katy emck susan vreelands second novel, girl in hyacinth blue, may be a book about a painting, but it is never content with.

Editions of girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland. Such is the case of the vermeer painting, girl in hyacinth blue, as described by author. The main character is a paintingsupposedly a rare original by vermeer. I placed the painting in the small drawing room, above a blue velvet chaise that intensified the blue in the girls smock which hung in graceful folds of that luscious deep blue of the early hyacinths when the blooms are just beginning to open, not the paler blue after theyve waned. The new york times bestselling luminous tale about art and human experience that is as breathtaking as any vermeer painting a little gem of a novel.

After dean merrills funeral, a few colleagues from the mathematics department are talking, and at some. From a proud father regretting his lost love to a compromised french noblewoman, from a hanged girl to vermeers own gifted daughter, susan vreelands beautiful and luminous tales link to. In the end, its only the moments that we have, the kiss on the palm, the joint wonder at the furrowed texture of a. Analyze what function the painting serves for each. The art expert dismisses it as a fake along the lines of so many vermeer imitations. Girl in hyacinth blue bucks county free library overdrive.

Free download or read online girl in hyacinth blue pdf epub book. Susan vreeland imagined just such a humble domestic scene, suggested it was created in 17thcentury holland, and. What is girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland about. This study guide consists of approximately 26 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of girl in hyacinth blue. The book follows the owners of a painting by vermeer of the same name, from the present day back to the midseventeenth century when it was painted. Unobtrusively, vreeland builds a picture of the dutch character, equal parts sober work ethic and faith in a harsh religion. The only wobble in this elegant little book is at the start, where a stiffness in character may be intended but jars even so. Brush with fate is a television film debuted on february 2, 2003, on cbs. What does girl in hyacinth blue suggest about the value, both personal and monetary, and the function and purpose of art. In one, he paints his daughter to pay off debts, a second story describes the loss of the ownership papers, a third takes place on the eve of its theft by the nazis. Listen to girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland at. Susan vreelands girl in hyacinth blue traces the changing ownership of a fictional vermeer painting over several centuries, from its creation to modern day, and fleshes out the.

Girl in hyacinth blue is a series of vignettes chronicling the reverse history of a fictional vermeer painting of the same name. Susan vreeland booklist susan vreeland message board. Susan vreeland, quote from girl in hyacinth blue if two people love the same thing, she reasoned, then they must love each other, at least a little, even if they never say it. Girl in hyacinth blue pdf, joe and charlie big book study tapes, download girl in hyacinth blue free reading pdf. This luminous story begins in the present day, when a professor invites a colleague to his home to see a painting that he has kept secret for decades. The girl in hyacinth blue should appeal to readers who enjoy non traditional love stories. The imaginary painting girl in hyacinth blue, the principal object in. More about girl in hyacinth blue at powells books or. Girl in hyacinth blue book summary and study guide. What does girl in hyacinth blue suggest about the value personal and monetary and purpose of art. Pdf girl in hyacinth blue book by susan vreeland free.

This is a book that is written for an adult or mature young adult reader. Luckily, you dont have to know art history to enjoy the book. Girl in hyacinth blue tells the story of an imaginary painting by vermeer, and the aspirations and longings of those whose lives it illuminates, and darkens. Parade a professor invites a colleague from the art department to his home to see a painting that he has kept secret for decades.