I recommend it to anyone interested in the paintings of the old masters in the mid 1600's. Set in Delft, this novel contains a wealth of information about painting techniques, mixing of materials and a snapshot of history.

The small Dutch town of Delft once held the honor of excellent brewing. Later, they turned to pottery, tile and china manufacturing. Rich with artistry and beauty, this predominately protestant industrious community, is one I personally long to visit.

The well developed characters provide a framework of a time abundant in craft and art in both Holland and Delft. When the father of Louise Eeden, the heir to one of the richest pottery establishments, commissions a portrait of Louise, her view of life is forever transformed.

While the artist who paints Louise is fictional, the author uses actual characters such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, Carel Fabrituius and the great philosopher Benedict Spinoza as references.

In addition, when reading this book, I learned of the explosion known as the Delft Thunderclap wherein over 200 houses were leveled and the great artist Carel Fabritius and his family were killed.

Today Fabritius' painting The Gold Finch is located in the Mauritshaus Museum in the Hague. It hangs by Vermeer's View of Delft: ( )

Fairly predictable historical fiction. Nothing remarkable, but not terrible. Don't know if there's enough draw to read the next book in the trilogy, though. ( )