‘Tim’s Vermeer’ is a Lovingly Rendered Obsession

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CHICAGO – One of the fabulous subsets of human success is the person who evolves beyond collecting material goods and uses the bounty for pursuits of utter usefulness, which cannot be mastered unless that wealth buys the time and resources. Case in point, the subject of “Tim’s Vermeer.”

Tim is Tim Jenison, a Texas based inventor with a large war chest. For years, he had been mesmerized by 17th century Dutch master artist Johannes Vermeer – think “Girl with a Pearl Earring” – and how that painter was able to create photo realistic canvases 150 years before photography. This documentary goes with Jenison on that pursuit, from Europe to his home state, as he breaks down the science of creation using what was available to Vermeer in this time. The result is extremely provocative and fascinating portrait – both of Tim and Vermeer’s techniques – and is a treat for art buffs, engineering buffs and eccentricity buffs.

Tim Jenison’s background is one of curiosity and inventiveness. As the founder of NewTek in the 1980s, he helped revolutionize desktop video production and animation with the Video Toaster. Flush with success and the dollars associated with it, Jenison became an experimenter for different interests and adventures. One of the pursuits had to do with the Johannes Vermeer paintings.

Penn Gillette, Tim Jenison
Tim Jenison (right) Demonstrates Technique to Penn Gillette in ‘Tim’s Vermeer’
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Jenison was convinced that Vermeer used a series of projector mirrors – often called a “Camera Obscura” – to create his intensely lit realistic paintings. Using this technology, Jenison manufactures a similar set-up, with technology only available in Vermeer’s time. To prove his theories, he sets out to exactly replicate one of Vermeer’s most famous paintings, “The Music Lesson.”

Given the idealistic illusion of fine art, it was appropriate that this documentary was produced by magician (and Tim Jenison friend) Penn Gillette, and directed by Penn’s partner, Raymond Joseph “Teller.” The advantage is the pair knew about this project and were able to capture it from an early idea, which makes the step-by-step procedure that much more arresting. Teller’s knowledge of generating distractions in magic was evident in his directing, in his perspective of peering into the mind of a master engineer.

Tim Jenison comes off as a humble man in the profile, humble in his success and the knowledge base that gave him the success. It is a true mind of curiosity as portrayed, and Jenison is someone who would make a fine dinner companion. He is unflappable in his explanations and meticulous procedures, and shows off a child-like awe when the Queen Elizabeth, who owns the original “The Music Lesson” that hangs in Buckingham Palace, grants the ersatz re-creator a private look at the real deal.

This task was never easy, and Jenison was not a fine artist. He simply engineered a way to render the process, from the first “eureka” discovery of how Vermeer set up his tools, to the calculating, rebuilding and precision modeling it took to even begin the copy. Teller was also able to give the viewer an idea of the tediousness of the project. Jenison got clearly frustrated at times, even as the painting came to life. Very few people would have his patience, and his years of software coding paid off in sticking to it.

Tim Jenison
Tim Jenison With a Prop From His Fine Art in ‘Tim’s Vermeer’
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics

The discovery of all this was in a word, marvelous. We assume that the task would be successful – the title kind of gives it away – but the film is framed so that we’re rooting for Tim to succeed along the whole way of the creation. The humility of using his wealth for a curious objective like figuring out a legendary artist seems a proper use of a short time on earth. Tim Jenison is a hero.

The next time a Vermeer painting stares back at you at an exhibition or even an art book – although his subtlety is difficult to appreciate in a reprint – think of the bearded cultural soldier named Tim who figured out a tiny piece of the master for himself, and shared that process with his fellow travelers.

“Tim’s Vermeer” has a limited release, including Chicago, on February 14th. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Tim Jenison, Penn Gillette, Martin Mull and David Hockney. Directed by Teller. Rated “PG-13”

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2014 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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