Susan Vreeland
Susan Vreeland: A Life of Artistic Expression
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Susan Vreeland was an American novelist, artist, and art historian known for her vivid depictions of 18th- and 19th-century European life.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on February 22, 1946, in San Francisco, California, Susan Vreeland passed away on December 20, 2010 at the age of 64 due to pancreatic cancer.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American by nationality, Vreeland's professions spanned three artistic fields: novelist, artist, and art historian. Her creative output flourished across multiple mediums, showcasing her multifaceted talents.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in a family of artists, Susan was exposed to the world of art from an early age. She began drawing at four years old and continued to nurture this skill throughout her life. Her parents' encouragement and support played a significant role in shaping her artistic pursuits. Vreeland's early fascination with European history, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, laid the foundation for her future work as an art historian and novelist.
Major Accomplishments
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Susan Vreeland's literary career was marked by numerous accomplishments:
Her debut novel Girl in Hyacinth Blue (1999) garnered critical acclaim and became a New York Times bestseller.
She went on to write six more novels, each one meticulously researched and infused with the beauty of European art history.
Vreeland's work was not limited to writing; she also showcased her artistic skills through various exhibitions, including paintings and prints.Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Susan Vreeland's notable works include:
Girl in Hyacinth Blue (1999) - Her debut novel that blends art history with a gripping narrative.
The Passion of Artemisia (2002) - A biographical novel about the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, an Italian Baroque painter known for her powerful female subjects.
Lunch at the Mooch (2008) - A collection of short stories that weave together art history and everyday life.
Impact and Legacy
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Susan Vreeland's impact on literature is undeniable. Her novels not only transported readers to 18th- and 19th-century Europe but also shed light on lesser-known artists and their works. By skillfully merging historical accuracy with engaging storytelling, she raised the bar for art history-infused fiction.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Susan Vreeland is widely quoted and remembered for:
Her unique blend of art history and literature: Vreeland's ability to bring European art to life through her novels made her a standout in the literary world.
Her contributions to women's empowerment: By highlighting the lives and works of female artists, she played a significant role in promoting feminist ideals within the context of art history.
Susan Vreeland's legacy continues to inspire readers and writers alike. Her love for European art and history has left an indelible mark on literature, ensuring her place as a notable figure in the world of art-infused fiction.
Quotes by Susan Vreeland
Susan Vreeland's insights on:
The notion of lovers living together is altogether too demanding. One can be caught so unready.
She wasn’t at peace the way that artist painted her. She was leaning forward, and the rigidness of her spine showed the ache in her soul. She was a desperate woman with frailties just like her, temptations just liker her, a woman who had needs, a woman who loved almost to the point of there being no more her anymore, a woman who probably cried too much, just like her, a woman afraid, wanting to believe rather than believing...
Poor fool, ruining his life for a piece of cloth smeared with mineral paste, for a fake, I had to tell myself, a mere curiosity.
You know, bicycling isn’t just a matter of balance,” I said. “it’s a matter of faith. You can keep upright only by moving forward. You have to have your eyes on the goal, not the ground. I’m going to call that the Bicyclist’s Philosophy of Life.
A year passes like a revolving wheel, and when the spoke of January comes round again, it finds itself in a different place. And so with pain. It does not leave us where it found us.
This girl, when she became a woman, would risk all, sacrifice all, overlook and endure all in order to be one with her beloved.
Her chest ached like a dull wound when she realized that her silence did not cause him a moment’s reflection or curiosity. When she looked out the corner of her eye at him, she could not tell what she meant to him... Another wish that never would come true, she saw then, even if she lived forever, was that he, that someone, would look at her not as an artistic study, but with love.
Therefore, what I had been taught to fear I now embraced. Betrayal- his or mine, it didn’t matter- freed me.