Facts About Johannes Vermeer

In Tracey Chevalier's novel "Girl with a Pearl Earring," the author writes a fictional account of the circumstances under which painter Johannes Vermeer may have created his masterpiece, which is also known as "The Dutch Mona Lisa." The story centers upon Delft, where Vermeer was born and spent most of his life. The novel and the 2003 film it inspired allude to Vermeer's unique gifts, particularly his way of depicting light and his use of detail. Vermeer created fascinating works, largely interiors, that were infused with atmospheric color.

History

It is challenging to give a detailed biographical account of Vermeer, because there are few official documents that recount his life, inspiring art critic Thore Burger to call him "The Sphinx of Delft." John Michael Montias endeavored to assemble disparate sources of information to create a rough time line of Vermeer's life. The artist lived and worked in Delft, though he was unable to make a living as a painter. He underwent a six-year apprenticeship with an artist in the Saint Luke's Guild, an influential group that oversaw business practices of painters. The apprenticeship required mastering the elements of painting.

Size

Part of Johannes Vermeer's obscurity is due to his relatively low output of work. There are less than 40 paintings that can be unquestioningly attributed to Vermeer. Art historians have struggled to confirm which paintings belong to Vermeer's oeuvre because the artist worked in many styles and subjects. He was inconsistent in signing his paintings. There are no records of preliminary drawings or paintings to reveal the artist's process. In 1866, Thore Burger wrote an essay on the artist and his work, inspiring a reexamination of this unfairly overlooked master painter of the Dutch Golden Age.

Identification

What makes a Vermeer a Vermeer? Although the painter's work was diverse, there are Vermeer trademarks. He worked slowly and with great care. He incorporated bright colors in his palette and used expensive pigments, such as his favorite, cornflower blue. He was masterful at capturing light and shadow and used them to spotlight the flawless skin of a woman's face or the intricate details of a flower.

Considerations

After World War II, Dutch Field Security implemented a thorough search for Nazi sympathizers. They came upon Henricus Antonius (Han) van Meegeren, who made his living dealing art. They discovered he had sold Vermeer's "The Woman Taken in Adultery" to Hermann Goering. However, the authorities were in for a surprise. After a month-and-a-half in jail, van Meegeren confessed that he had painted the Vermeer. The masterpiece was a forgery. Officials did not believe he could paint such an incredible likeness, and ordered the artist to copy a Vermeer under surveillance. His aptitude at copying Vermeer further muddled historians' efforts to locate true works by the Dutch master.

Expert Insight

Historians have analyzed paintings by Johannes Vermeer and discovered some interesting elements about his process. Vermeer, like other artists of his era, hand-ground his pigments. However, this process often produced variations in tone, prompting the painter to employ techniques such as underpainting in a monochrome hue, glazing the work, altering the consistency of the paint and economizing in the application of the paint.

Resources

• Essential Vermeer website