Thunderclap: the 'other' artists

Laura Cumming's beautifully written and highly readable book, Thunderclap, is a personal memoir of the discovery of art, and of a life lived alongside it. Although it is also, nominally, an exploration of the life and work of the enigmatic Carel Fabritius, she touches on a number of other great artists along the way.

Having talked about Fabritius a few months back, trying to cover most of his few surviving paintings, I would like to consider the other artists she draws our attention to in greater depth.

They include Hendrick Avercamp, whose richly detailed winter landscapes have graced many a Christmas card, and, most famously of all, Rembrandt van Rijn. I will only think about the ones she discusses, or we'd be there all night.  She also discusses a new 'favourite' of mine, Gerard ter Borch, who rivals Vermeer in his focus, and surpasses him in technical skill. I will finish with the beautiful, focussed, and jewel-like still lives by Adriaen Coorte, whose work I now look at with new eyes - and a great deal of wonder - thanks to the richness of Cumming's writing.