Tyler Cowen interviews Andrew Graham-Dixon on Vermeer and art history
6 reported
Tyler Cowen hosted a conversation with art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon, covering topics from Vermeer’s religious and political context to the undervaluation of painter George Stubbs. Graham-Dixon argued that Vermeer was among the first pioneers of the liberal tradition, linked to a Protestant sect called the Remonstrants and a more extreme group called the Collegiants. He described these groups as pacifist and tolerationist, responding to the horrors of the Thirty Years’ War. Regarding Stubbs, Graham-Dixon blamed the French for inventing a ranking system that placed animal paintings at the bottom, which he said contributed to Stubbs’ underrated status. The conversation also touched on the location of the Gardner Museum’s stolen Concert painting and why Dutch music never flourished like Dutch painting. The episode includes audio, video, and a transcript.
What’s reported
Andrew Graham-Dixon’s new book on Vermeer argues the painter was among the first pioneers of the liberal tradition.
Vermeer and his patrons were part of a Protestant sect called the Remonstrants, with a more extreme offshoot called the Collegiants.
The Collegiants were pacifist and tolerationist, opposing division and hostility, and included Jewish and Muslim people.
The Thirty Years’ War killed 15 million out of 20 million German people, according to Graham-Dixon.
Graham-Dixon said the French invented a 17th-century ranking system that placed animal paintings at the bottom, contributing to George Stubbs’ underrated status.
The conversation mentions the Gardner Museum’s stolen Concert painting and why Dutch music never blossomed like Dutch painting.
Key figures
Tyler Cowen (interviewer)
Andrew Graham-Dixon (art historian, author)
George Stubbs (painter, discussed)
Vermeer (painter, discussed)
Sources: marginalrevolution.com
