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Thunderclap

A memoir of art and life & sudden death

Laura Cumming author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:16th May '24

£12.99

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Thunderclap cover

In Thunderclap, Laura Cumming reflects on art, memory, and the bond between a father and daughter, exploring how paintings can transform lives.

In Thunderclap, Laura Cumming presents a beautifully illustrated memoir that intertwines her life with the legacy of the painter Carel Fabritius. The narrative begins with the tragic gunpowder explosion in Delft in 1654, which claimed the life of Fabritius and left behind his haunting masterpiece, The Goldfinch. Cumming explores not only the life and times of Fabritius but also reflects on her own experiences with her father, a painter, creating a deep and personal connection to the art that surrounds them.

The book takes readers on a journey through various historical and cultural landscapes, from the vibrant streets of seventeenth-century Delft to the serene Scottish islands of the twentieth century. Cumming skillfully weaves together the lives of iconic artists from the Dutch Golden Age, including Rembrandt, while highlighting the profound impact that art can have on our lives. Each chapter reveals how a single painting can resonate through generations, evoking emotions and changing perspectives.

Thunderclap ultimately serves as a meditation on the power of art to transform our thinking and experiences. Cumming's lyrical prose and evocative illustrations invite readers to see the world anew, emphasizing the timeless connection between art, memory, and love. This memoir is not just about a painting; it is about the relationships and moments that define us.

A book that often borders on the sublime in its sentiment and beauty * Sunday Times *
This is an extraordinary book, full of beauty and feeling and immediacy and depth (and impressive detective work)...Thunderclap is a work of genius -- India Knight
One of the most captivating books I have ever read… Delightful, intimate, and dotted with beautiful art. A wonderful read (or a great present) for anyone who loves stories and art * Nina Stibbe *
Cumming is a word-painter ... When something fascinates Laura Cumming, she makes sure, with her beguiling prose, that we too are caught up in her fascination * The Times *
Cumming clearly loves these paintings, and by weaving together vivid evocations of ones that particularly move her with brief biographies of the men and women who painted them, she invites us to share that love * New York Times *
Exquisite... [Cumming's] pages are themselves lovely exercises in poetic vision and stay with you long after you finish -- Simon Schama, author of BELONGING * Guardian *
[A] lustrous meditation on the lives and after-lives of artists ... with a novelist's pace, a critic's eye, a daughter's heart * Financial Times *
A superb tribute to the masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age, and the father who taught her how to see them ... In asking why we return to paintings across decades and centuries, this book taught me to see anew * Telegraph *
[A] fascinating amalgam of insightful art appreciation and a haunting personal story * Sunday Times, *Books of the Year* *
An intriguing, ambitious and tender blend of art history and personal memoir, this beautifully illustrated book is one to read and re-read * Daily Mail, *Books of the Year* *

ISBN: 9781529922530

Dimensions: 197mm x 126mm x 20mm

Weight: 424g

272 pages