Johannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675), a painter from Delft, left only about thirty-five works. His quiet interiors, bathed in soft light, make him one of the masters of the Dutch Golden Age.

From the page of Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window

Very little information is available about the life of Johannes (or Jan) Vermeer. According to church records he was born in Delft (Vermeer’s house pictured) in 1632 and spent his whole life in the Dutch city. Famously known as a slow and thorough painter, he left only a modest body of work: some 35–40 paintings can be regarded with complete certainty as part of his oeuvre, and only three of these are thought to have been dated by him. Vermeer, a master painter of the Guild of St Luke, inherited his father’s inn and picture-dealing business. Keeping up these two interests may be the reason why so few paintings are associated with his name. Despite his business opportunities Vermeer always struggled with financial difficulties.

From the page of Girl with a Pearl Earring