The Ashgate Research Companion to Dutch Art of the Seventeenth-Century explores the current state of scholarship vis-à-vis Dutch art in all of its complexity. Its 19 chapters, divided into three sections and written by a team of internationally renowned art historians, address a wide variety of topics. Each chapter provides the reader with a clear understanding of the current state of the research on the topic in question.

Despite the tremendous number of studies produced annually in the field of Dutch art over the last 30 years or so, and the strong contemporary market for works by Dutch masters of the period as well as the public's ongoing fascination with some of its most beloved painters, until now there has been no comprehensive study assessing the state of research in the field. As the first study of its kind, this book is a useful resource for scholars and advanced students of seventeenth-century Dutch art, and also serves as a springboard for further research. Its 19 chapters, divided into three sections and written by a team of internationally renowned art historians, address a wide variety of topics, ranging from those that might be considered "traditional" to others that have only drawn scholarly attention comparatively recently.

During the seventeenth century, the Dutch Republic was transformed into a leading political power in Europe, with global trading interests. It nurtured some of the period's greatest luminaries, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, Descartes and Spinoza. Long celebrated for its religious tolerance, artistic innovation and economic modernity, the United Provinces of the Netherlands also became known for their involvement with slavery and military repression in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This Companion provides a compelling overview of the best scholarship on this much debated era, written by a wide range of experts in the field. Unique in its balanced treatment of global, political, socio-economic, literary, artistic, religious, and intellectual history, its nineteen chapters offer an indispensable guide for anyone interested in the world of the Dutch Golden Age.

As a revival in Owen studies and reprints has taken place, this much-needed Companion by an international group of leading scholars, helpfully explores key questions related to Owen's method, theology and pastoral practice. Examining his thought through such topics as his epic work on the Holy Spirit, his developed view of faith and reason, and his contribution to the place of toleration, this book offers an authoritative exploration of Britain's greatest theologians.

'In the last two decades, the history of the Counter-Reformation has been stretched and re-shaped in numerous directions. Reflecting the variety and innovation that characterize studies of early modern Catholicism today, this volume incorporates topics as diverse as life cycle and community, science and the senses, the performing and visual arts, material objects and print culture, war and the state, sacred landscapes and urban structures. Moreover, it challenges the conventional chronological parameters of the Counter-Reformation and introduces the reader to the latest research on global Catholicism. The Ashgate Research Companion to the Counter-Reformation presents a comprehensive examination of recent scholarship on early modern Catholicism in its many guises. It examines how the Tridentine reforms inspired conflict and conversion, and evaluates lives and identities, spirituality, culture and religious change. This wide-ranging and original research guide is a unique resource for scholars and students of European and transnational history.

An original and provocative view of Golden Age still life paintings and the exotic commodities they depict

This book is the first complete study of the life and work of the 17th-century Dutch painter Simon Kick (1603-1652). Kick was active in Amsterdam, the largest and busiest city of the Netherlands, alongside Rembrandt. Simon Kick began painting only at the age of 32, driven to do so only due to the tragic death of his brother-in-law and since the economic situation necessitated it. Nevertheless, he was an excellent painter who focused on painting portraits, histories, and, above all, genre topics. He was one of only ten 17th-century Dutch painters to practice the unique genre formula of the guardroom scene. His guardroom scenes stand out as being more gentrified than others due to the fact that he assimilated in them the elegance of contemporary civic-guard portraits. His figures are particularly striking since they are well-characterized, often depicted in a contemplative mood, and imbued with a strong psychological presence. The fact that he started his career late and passed away at an early age robbed us of a great painter. The book includes a biography of the painter, as well as a systematic and comparative iconographical and stylistic study of his work, with an attached critical oeuvre catalogue. As such, it provides an important tool for both art enthusiasts and collectors, as well as art professionals such as students, scholars, auctioneers, and art dealers.