The blockbuster show at the National Gallery of Art is up until January 21, 2018. Tom and Sheila explore
the exhibition in two ways: first, as presented: a movement. It all happened 350 years ago: the artists lived close enough to each other to travel by horse, cart, or by foot; and the fabulous sleuthing curators had a wonderful time putting together the show. The second way is: How could artists paint like this? How did they get this luminous quality? How did they get this space? How did they ever learn to paint satin and patterns and textured rugs? What really makes these paintings great, and what makes Vermeer rise above them all?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download