Reviews - Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life & Sudden Death

227 reviews for:

Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life & Sudden Death

Laura Cumming’s ‘Thunderclap’ is a very personal collection of connected essays about the so-called Golden Age of Dutch Art, her Scottish father’s life as an artist, and her own relationship to art and viewing it. Captivated at an early age by the work of Carel Fabritius, whom she characterizes as “the missing link” between Rembrandt and Vermeer for many art historians, Cumming focuses on lesser known Dutch Renaissance artists like Fabritius, Gerard Ter Borch, Rachel Ruysch, Adriaen Coorte, Emanuel de Witte, and my new favorite, Pieter de Hooch. Less than a dozen of Fabritius’s paintings survive, which adds to the mystery of this accomplished artist, who was killed at age 32 by the “thunderclap” of the title, when the gunpowder stores of Delft exploded in 1654. Cumming does a fascinating job of recreating the artistic world of seventeenth-century Delft and Amsterdam, where “somewhere between 1.3 and 1.4 million paintings were produced by between 600 and 700 painters” in about 20 years (129). Her larger point, however, is inspiring in the reader a reverence and respect for the arts, and the millions of artists past and present, who work against odds to help us reach our fullest potential as humans. A beautiful book, with illustrations (but I still looked for many of these artists on the internet).

essjay1's review against another edition

3.0

This is interesting, full of description about the paintings and history of the Dutch painters of this period in the 17thC. I enjoyed learning more about Delft, the goldfinch and Carel Fabritius, and personal connection she has with these paintings. For lovers of art and memoir.

armorcats's review against another edition

5.0

Really, really enjoyed this book. I listened to the author read the audiobook and that was a wonderful choice. She’s got such an emotive voice. But her writing is really the star here. Just thoughtful and beautiful, melding the story of one Dutch master with very few known paintings with works from other Dutch masters plus the life of her very cherished father, another painter. I also bought the hardback book so I could match the words to the actual works of art. Just a magnificent book!

cathleenrenee's review against another edition

4.0

emotional informative sad slow-paced

redheadreading's review against another edition

3.25

informative reflective slow-paced

Enjoyed the discussions on Fabritius's work and Dutch art, but I wasn't as enthralled with the memoir aspect of the narrative and it got a little repetitive. Of course I understand the love Cumming has for her father, but the anecdotes didn't always seem to relate to the discussions on Dutch art so I felt a little unmoored at times, wondering how we got to these points. I definitely preferred Cumming's The Vanishing Man as it had a clearer structure and drive to it, but I really do admire the way Cumming is able to capture the fascination with and emotion of artworks.