# Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death - Hardcover

by **Laura Cumming** (Author)

**_New York Times_** **bestselling author and art critic Laura Cumming reveals the fascinating, little-known story of the Thunderclap--the massive explosion at a gunpowder store in Holland that killed Carel Fabritius, renowned painter of _The Goldfinch_ and nearly killed Johannes Vermeer, painter of _Girl with a Pearl Earring_\--two of the greatest artists of the 17th century.**

As a brilliant art critic and historian, Laura Cumming has explored the importance of art in life and can give us a perspective on the time and place in which the artist worked. Now, through the lens of one dramatic event in 17th century Holland, Cumming illuminates one of the most celebrated periods in art history.

In 1654, an enormous explosion at a gunpowder store devasted the city of Delft, killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands more. Among those killed was the extraordinary painter Carel Fabritius, renowned for his paintings _The Goldfinch_ and his haunting masterpiece _A View of Delft_, which depicts the very streets through which the victims would be carried to their graves. Fabritius's contemporary and rival Vermeer, painter of the iconic portrait _Girl with a Pearl Earring_, narrowly escaped death.

Framing the story around Fabritius's life, Cumming deftly weaves a sequence of observations about paintings and how they relate to everyday life. Like Dutch art itself, the story gradually links country, city, town, street, house, interior--all the way to the bird on its perch, the blue and white tile, the smallest seed in a loaf of bread. The impact of a painting and how it can enter our thoughts, influence our views, and understanding of the world is the heart of this book and Cumming has brought her unique eye to her most compelling subject yet.

Featuring beautiful full-color images of Dutch paintings throughout, this is a stunningly rich book about one of the most vibrant periods in European art and life.

**Number of Pages:** 272

**Dimensions:** 0.9 x 9.2 x 6.6 IN

**Publication Date:** July 11, 2023

## Details

- **Price:** 32.5 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 32.50 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death - Hardcover
- Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death - Hardcover

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> Updated: 2026-07-23