Jane Jelley

Jane Jelley

Jane Jelley is a painter of still life and landscape who became interested in the unusual technical qualities of Vermeer’s painting, and in the arguments about whether or not he might have used a camera obscura in his work. She decided to make some experiments in her own studio to transfer images from projections directly to a canvas. Using historical painting treatises and authentic materials, she found a reliable solution that corresponds to the scientific examination of Vermeer’s work which provides answers to some of the puzzles he left behind. Jane lives and works in Oxford.

Books by Jane Jelley

Interviews with Jane Jelley

The best books on Vermeer and Studio Method, recommended by Jane Jelley

Painting is not what it used to be. With materials and photography close to hand, it’s easy to forget the sheer labour involved in producing an Old Master canvas. What does studio method – the making of masterpieces – tell us about artistic genius, then and now? Painter Jane Jelley considers the question using Johannes Vermeer as her starting point.

© Five Books 2024

Get our newsletter