What's really amazing is that this -- all this -- was for rank speculation!!! There was not one scrap, not one scrap of evidence of any mechanical interest, or

What's really amazing is that this -- all this -- was for rank speculation!!! There was not one scrap, not one scrap of evidence of any mechanical interest, or ability, or optical devices in Vermeer's life or among his possessions. It would be one thing if he thought Da Vinci had done it. But Vermeer? And yet he said, no, you can tell by the paint chips. That is an absolutely amazing amount of dedication to verifying something without looking at any evidence whatsoever but the end result. I couldn't have done it. I would have given up after a lack of any corroborating evidence.