A beautifully filmed documentary that goes in pursuit of answers to the unresolved riddles surrounding this extraordinary piece of art. Holland's distinguished Mauritshuis, is home to the painting and is a stunning jewel of a gallery. Enjoying exclusive access, the film's main focus are the key works housed here. Interpretation of these major treasures offer insights into Vermeer and his most famous work and are interwoven with Vermeer's life story...

"How to paint oil portraits like the Old Masters Mona Lisa. Girl with a Pearl Earring. Madame X. The infinite variety and beauty of humankind--like the mysteries behind sparkling eyes, a sly smile or an averted gaze--has captivated artists since the beginning of time. This expanded edition of Chris Saper's best-selling guide, Classic Portrait Painting in Oils, reveals keys for mastering how to paint beautiful portraits in oil to create soulful works...

A classic reference work for more than sixty years, Masterplots analyzes the most important works in all genres -- long fiction, short fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction -- throughout history and around the world, helping to define and critique the literary canon. Salem's most popular title, Masterplots, is being revised for the first time since 1996. Masterplots, Fourth Edition is an expanded and updated version of 1996's Masterplots, Third Edition...