Susan vreeland imagined just such a humble domestic scene, suggested it was created in 17thcentury holland, and attributed it to jan vermeer. Luckily, you dont have to know art history to enjoy the book. The first edition of the novel was published in 1999, and was written by susan vreeland. Do you feel the author is focusing more on the role of art or the nature of life. Mar 20, 2012 this is the story of its owners whose lives are influenced by its beauty and mystery. The professor swears it is a vermeer but why has he hidden this important work for so long. Oct 01, 2000 girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland 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. Jan 02, 2012 paris, a hyacinth macaw, is in predator mode and chases after a person. Susan vreelands second novel, girl in hyacinth blue, may be a book about a painting, but it is never content with surfaces. 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. Knowing nothing about art history, this means little to me. A professor invites a colleague from the art department to. The imaginary painting girl in hyacinth blue, the principal object in this film, is painted exactly in vermeers painting technique by the american master painter jonathan janson, author and webmaster of the worldknown website about the life and work of johannes vermeer essential vermeer. Girl in hyacinth blue ebook written by susan vreeland.
A few thoughts on susan vreelands girl in hyacinth blue. Characters from girl in hyacinth blue final flashcards quizlet. But she busied herself with setting out the supper, a sure sign that she was not ready for affection, and so he did not do what he longed for most. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. It must have been what hed wanted to hear, for it unleashed a string of directives, delivered at high pitch.
Girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland reading guide. This is a mystery, because the painting isnt signed. And herein lay both the challenge and stimulus for me as a professional painter and above all as a long time devotee of vermeers art. Listen to girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland at. Girl in hyacinth blue audiobook, by susan vreeland.
Friday, after finishing im not scared, i started the girl in hyacinth blue. The passion of artemisia is a fictionalised investigation of some aspects of the life of artemisia gentileschi, while the girl in hyacinth blue centres round an imaginary painting by vermeer. 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. Start studying characters from girl in hyacinth blue final. Paris, a hyacinth macaw, is in predator mode and chases after a person.
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 between objet dart and her possessor. Saskia is the mother of two children, she is the wife of a potato farmer this chapter takes place around 1717, in the. Girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland, paperback. 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. Discuss the different ways in which the paintingthe girlspoke to her. Pdf girl in hyacinth blue book by susan vreeland free. Compare and contrast hannah vredenburg and anne frank. This time is necessary for searching and sorting links. It is an imagined work by vermeer, created in the mind and heart the author. Why would the author structure the novel in reverse chronology. Reviewed by linda salisbury september october 1999. Create the imaginary painting, girl in hyacinth blue, in pencil, paper mosaic, pastels, or paint. Characters from girl in hyacinth blue final flashcards.
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. One button 15 links for downloading the book girl in hyacinth blue in all ebook formats. Listen to girl in hyacinth blue audiobook by susan vreeland. The ideas of art, beauty, relationships and history all come together in this story. 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. A connection between vermeers painting and vreelands novel. Interestingly, the story is told in reverse chronological order, beginning with the math teacher who, at present time, hides the painting in his home, to the girl in the painting and her wishes to become an artist herself. Girl in hyacinth blue is a 2000 novel by susan vreeland consisting of eight interlinked short stories. 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. Several of her books deal with the relationship between art and fiction. Despite their unsatisfied longings, their own and others flaws, the girl in hyacinth blue has the power to engender love in all its human variety.
Thus, it is a painting with its own persona and not a copy. Girl in hyacinth blue begins in presentday america and ends in the 17th century. It followed the life of an imaginary painting by dutch painter johannes vermeer as it passes through the hands of various people. Despite their many troubles and unsatisfied longings, the girl in hyacinth blue has the power to inspire love in all its human variety. The girl in hyacinth blue should appeal to readers who enjoy non traditional love stories. Alan v27n3 a few thoughts on susan vreelands girl in. Review of girl in hyacinth blue 9781878448903 foreword. Business publishing industry library and information science. This painting seems to have a different effect on each of the owners. Consider their situations, natures, actions, and words. Free download or read online girl in hyacinth blue pdf epub book.
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. First of all, the lost vermeer painting in susan vreelands novel girl in hyacinth blue is not a copy of an extant painting by vermeer. Let me emphasize, straight away, that he isnt what i would call a friend, but i know him enough to say that he did purposely design himself. Reconstruct a night different from all other nights using anne franks character rather than. Like im not scared its one of the books that had been sitting on my shelf for a good long while now that i never got around to reading. Such is the case of the vermeer painting, girl in hyacinth blue, as described by author susan vreeland.
I just finished reading the novel girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland. This is a very different story that starts in present time and moves backwards in time down through the centuries. The story is told in reverse chronological order tracing the painting from contemporary times back to its creation. The only wobble in this elegant little book is at the start, where a stiffness in character may be intended but jars even so.
In girl in hyacinth blue susan vreeland presents the reader with fragments that capture poignant moments in the lives of the various owners of an imagined vermeer painting. The tenderness of expression on the girl s girl in the painting face showed it was painted with intimacy and lovequalities missing, i supposed, in aletta pieterss life. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. What does girl in hyacinth blue suggest about the value personal and monetary and functionpurpose of art. Explore teaching activities to extend and enrich the student understanding of the girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland.
It is a symbol of art and creativity, because whether one is a peasant farm wife or a schoolteacher two hundred years later, art can evoke the same emotions in all. 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 stories of each family and why they appreciate the work. Press button get download links and wait 20 seconds. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland. And herein lay both the challenge and stimulus for me as a professional. 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. The reasons unfold in a series of events that trace the. The hyacinths loosetodense racemes clusters of strongly fragrant flowers may be closelypacked single or double flowers.
Girl in hyacinth blue susan vreeland read online free books. Girl in hyacinth blue girl in hyacinth blue explore teaching activities to extend and enrich the student understanding of the girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland. It must have been what hed wanted to hear, for it unleashed a string of directives. Susan joyce vreeland january 20, 1946 august 23, 2017 was an american author.
Hyacinths hyacinthus come in a variety of colorsfrom bright pink to soft blue. What does girl in hyacinth blue suggest about the value, both personal and monetary, and the function and purpose of art. Brush with fate is a television film debuted on february 2, 2003, on cbs. Susan vreeland imagined just such a humble domestic scene, suggested it was created in 17thcentury holland, and. In the course of her explorations, vreeland covers a lot of time and space. In the painting, the girl s 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 centerpiece of the story is a painting by the same name. A math teacher has a painting that he wants an art teacher to look at and determine if it is a vermeer. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Reading guide for girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland. I just finished reading susan vreelands novel girl in hyacinth blue. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 242 pages and is available in paperback format. Nov 14, 2009 i just finished reading the novel girl in hyacinth blue by susan vreeland.
What are the advantages or disadvantages of telling the story this way. 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. Then she wrote a beguiling novel about this canvas, which so closely resembles the 35. Analyze what function the painting serves for each. 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. The eight interlinked stories in this impressive debut collection revolve around a single painting by vermeer.
Girl in hyacinth blue serves as a symbol in the novel because it connects all different people to the same thing. 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. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are. He was in awe of the childs flights of fancy, her insatiable passion always to be running off somewhere. Set at a moment of profound artistic, cultural, and societal change, the painted girls is a tale of two remarkable sisters rendered uniquely vulnerable to the darker impulses of.
Girl in hyacinth blue tells the story of a painting by the dutch painter vermeer, as it passes from one owner to another. The dutch artist vermeer, known for paintings such as girl with the pearl earring, is at the center of the narrative with a fictional painting known as girl in hyacinth blue. Girl in hyacinth blue susan vreeland page 5 read online. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read girl in hyacinth blue. 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 main character is a paintingsupposedly a rare original by vermeer.
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