The Pearls of Jan Vermeer
http://phistars.blogspot.com/2011/12/pearls-of-jan-vermeer.html
The Pearls of Jan Vermeer
Today, I am going to blog about Jan Vermeer (1632-1675). He was a Dutch artist who took an eternity or two to finish a painting. Its not certain who taught Vermeer to paint. Most think that he was a self taught artist. He mainly used a device called camara oscura. This device projects an image of the surrounding room into a small chamber inside the device. It was useful for arranging the image and for perspective purposes. The side effect of this device is that it mirror modes the image. He mainly produced artwork for the humble middle class. He achieved relative little success during his lifetime. He only became popular after he was rediscovered about 200 years after his death .
He could never produce enough art works to feed his wife and his 10 children (they were actually 14 but 4 did not survive infancy). All the scenes took place in the same two rooms. Most of the characters of his painting where women (probably his lovers). The home itself is the house of his mother in law. She was wealthier than Jan Vermeer. Like all mothers in laws, she was super controlling. She convinced him to turn Catholic before marrying. I thinks that's everything. Lets just get this show on the road.
The Allegory of Faith
The first work is called the Allegory of Faith. Basically, this painting is supposed to be the physical manifestation of what it means to be faithful. Here we see the the Catholic faith. The painting is arranged as if the viewer were intruding into a private moment. We have just lift the curtain and discovered faith. This might be an allusion as to how Vermeer became truly Catholic. Near his home there was a Jesuit convent. That order was so good at conversion that they were sent by the Vatican to the New World. Perhaps, Vermeer achieved true conversion under their tutelage.
In the background, we can see a painting of the Crucifixion. Like painting within a painting. There we see Maria Dolorosa. This is the name given to the Virgin Mary at the cross. The legend goes that when she saw her son on the cross she felt a terrible pain that felt as if her heart was pierce by a dagger. It is for this reason, that this Dolorosa always appears with her heart pierced by a dagger. In all depictions of the Virgin Mary she appears ageless. This version is far more realistic. If you look closely you can see wrinkles around her neck.
The man next to her is Jesus Beloved Apostle. There has always been some discrepancies among the Gospel about who was at the cross. They all agree that Jesus mother was there. In this version, we see the beloved apostle. The only out of place person inside this Crucifixion is a maiden that has her hand on her face. She has small child next to her. Now that I look at her better, I think that there is glass on top of this painting. Perhaps she is only a reflection on this surface.
Speaking of reflections, do you see the glass globe next to the painting? Here you can see vaguely the reflection of the room. Next, we see a lovely carpet with golden and red patterns. Gold and red was the common color decoration used in the churches for the Counter Reformation. The church to counteract the Protestant reformation sought to "whoa" the masses with splendor. It was during this time when the churches got really elaborated. This strategy worked pretty well because the Protestant churches were super stiff. Just plain white and if your lucky you could find one or two stained glass windows. Perhaps, it was these lovely decoration that helped Vermeer find Faith.
In front of this carpet, we can see a cross, the Eucharist and an open bible on top of a blue table. From what I read, Vermeer was fascinated by the mystery of the Eucharist. In the Protestant version, the Last Supper performance is simply a meal in remembrance of Christ, nothing more, nothing less. For the Catholics, the Eucharist is filled with the symbolical blood of Christ. After the faithful consumes it, they become one with Christ. It is a sacred and holy ritual and the climax of the mass. The entire proceeding leads up to the in taking of the Eucharist. For Vermeer, the Eucharist was the entire foundation of his new found faith.
Next to the table, I can see a maiden with a blue dress with her hand toward her hearth. She has one of her feet on top of a map of the world. She appears as the Immaculate persona. Her other feet is on top of a green carpet. On the floor, I can see a serpent with his head crushed by a brick. Toward the carpet I can see an apple with a bite. This is an allusion to the original sin (which was disobedience to the will of God). Between the serpent and the Eucharist we have the Fall of Man and Redemption. I think this is all that needs to be said about this painting. Overall, it has all the elements that are part of the Catholic faith. Truly, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
Christ in the House of Martha and Mary
The next painting shows the infamous scene of Christ at the house of Martha and Mary. I think this was one of Vermeer's early paintings. As you noticed, the composition is simpler and less refined. The surroundings are opaque and less delineated. Martha is dressed like a regular Dutch lady. However, Jesus and Mary are wearing the ancient Roman fashion. Both have the same red and blue clothing. This is a visual sign that they are both equal in mind and spirit (seeing as though Mary is an disciple of Jesus). In non biblical sources, many preachers claimed apostolic descent from these two ladies. Thus, this scene is of utmost importance, for it chronicles Christ instruction of Martha and Mary.
In any case, the story goes that one day Jesus visited the house of his disciples Martha and Mary. Martha was preoccupied with getting diner ready while her sister Mary was listening to Jesus preach. At a certain juncture, Martha got angry at having to do all the work. She asked Jesus to make Mary helped her out. Jesus stated that Mary had chosen the best course of action. What Jesus meant was that it is better to listen to his word than to be preoccupied with mundane matters. He could also have meant that belief was far more important than the form of worship. Vermeer portrayed this scene in quite the simplistic fashion. Thus, this painting is worthy of 5 star rating.
Girl Asleep at a Table
As you can see, there is a girl asleep at a table. Toward the foreground we can see a lovely still life (or painting of inanimate objects like food and jars) arrangement. The mantlepiece looks quite lovely. It is the source of most bright colors of this piece. Behind her you can see an open door that shows a part of a living room, plus a window. The painting is simple enough, but composition wise (as in the arrangement of the furniture) its 5 star worthy.
Lady with her Maidservant Holding a Letter
Another, self explanatory title. In this scene, the Lady has just received a letter. Judging by the hand to her face, she must be inquiring about the messenger. The entire image seems impromptu, unplanned. If we did not know better, we would swear that this was a photograph. On the table we see a fancy box and some silverware. If you noticed the Lady was in the process of writing a letter. If you zoom in enough you can see the letter half written.
It is interesting to note the contrast between the Maidservant and the Lady. The Maidservant being a character of less worth seems to fade into the background. Her clothing are humble and more somber. The Lady on the other hand, stands out due to her golden outfit. Her hair is also of a similar radiance. However, what really stands out are the Lady's pearls. They are quite fancy looking. The ones that stand out the most are the pearls in her hair.
The play of light is quite interesting. Visually we have an asymmetrical composition. It goes from the Lady and it fades toward the Maidservant. In a strange way, the Maidservant serves a vanishing point. She is the last thing one sees in the background. Ah...I think, that's everything there is to be said about this painting. 5 stars for this lovely Vermeer painting.
Lady Standing at a Virginal
Another, simple looking painting. I think this is the same maiden who acted as the Lady of the earlier painting. This one takes place in the painter's studio. She is smiling lightly toward the viewer in a whole Mona Lisa fashion.You can see the classical checkerboard pattern floor with the odd lil guys decorating the bottom of the wall. The dress of this Lady is fancy in a middle class sort of way. In front of her, I see a landscape painting. On the wall, you can see another landscape painting next to a Cupid painting. Visually, the painting is well balanced. The light makes the viewer focus on the Lady. Did you noticed that her dress matches the chair and the whitewash wall. Neat! Another, 5 stars for Jan Vermeer.
Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid
The next painting also takes place at the artist studio. Again, Vermeer uses the curtain to give an intimate feel to the painting. It makes the viewer part of the action. Here we see a different Lady writing a letter. I think the Maidservant is the same person. Her dress is a bit simpler. The maid stands out a bit this time. She is currently looking out the window while her Lady writes the letter. Both characters look realistic in their pose. The play with light and dark goes well with the Baroque style that was pop back then. Behind them I can see a giant painting of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. I think Vermeer's window has stained glass. The whole scenery goes well with the piety of his home (or at least the piety of his mother in law). In any case, this Vermeer painting is 5 star worthy.
Woman with a Lute Near a Window
Above, we see a maiden tuning her lute. A lute is a like a guitar but with twice as many strings. It makes a queer sound and its hard takes forever to tune (as you can see I am not a lute fan). The golden dress she is wearing is identical to the one worn by the Lady. This woman's gaze is focused on the open window. I wonder what she is looking at... I think those are the same cheap, blue chairs. I keep seeing those infamous large pearl earrings.
I think they made that movie surrounding these pearl earrings. They always made the Lady into such a psycho. From what I read, the Lady was kind and gentle, like a true Catholic lady. Back then it was not the fab to stand out or control one's husband wishes. What was encouraged for ladies was docility. So there is no freaking way that the girl with Lady of "The girl with a pearl earring" was a jerk. In an case, this painting of Vermeer gets 5 stars rating.
Young Girl with a Flute
This one shows a lovely girl with a flute. Her attire is blue with white fur at the arms and chest. Judging by her hands she seems to be a working woman. Plus, flute is a shepherd's instrument. Noblemen were more into classical instruments. Her hat is also as common as her abode. The only thing that is out of place about her is her blue clothing. The brush strokes are longer and less refined. This might be one of Vermeer's early experiments with composition and paint. In any case, Vermeer gets 5 stars.
I don't know what this one is called. This man seems to be an astronomer. On top of the book, shelve I see a globe with some books. The man is dressed like a scholar. He is holding a protractor. This devise is used to draw circles and to make calculations on top of a map. He is working on a large white parchment.
Toward the floor, I can see some parchments scattered about. Plus, there is a lovely book. The table has some blueish robes that look wonderful in the shadows. The only source of light comes from the window. This light falls directly on top of the parchment. It is interesting how this astronomer is looking out the window. I guess he is recording the movements of the Sun. Toward the corner, I can see Vermeer's signature. Another interesting arrangement. 5 stars. Oh wait!! He is a geographer, eh, same difference. Hehehehe.
A Girl Reading a Letter by an Open Window
Another self explanatory painting. In the foreground, we see a lovely still life of some green apples. These fruits with blue and white plate is on top of this fancy red rug. Toward the window, we can see the lovely girl reading her letter. Her face is reflected on the open window. The dress seems a bit too big on her around the chest. Damn!! Those are some huge ears!!! Aside from that, I think the girl is just about done reading the letter. You can tell by the way she is holding the letter. Lets see, here is a green curtain toward the right. Plus, a lil red curtain coming over the open widow. The arrangement is pretty neat, well balanced. In any case, this painting is 5 star worthy.
A Lady Seated at a Virginal
You got to admit that Vermeer truly is the master of composition. Look at how everything matches. The dress of the Lady goes with the curtain, the cello, the virginal, the chair and the golden border of the painting. I think the bow of the cello is perfectly aligned with the top of the chair. Yep, that guy had an eye for detail. I don't think that's an ordinary cello. It has way too many strings. The virginal is holding up a music piece. The painting inside the virginal shows a lovely landscape. The other painting shows some peasants talking with a woman. You know, the way this Lady looks as if she is part of the furniture. Her face lacks expression. In any case, this lovely arrangement of Vermeer is 5 star worthy.
A Lady Writing
By using light, Vermeer focuses the eyes of the viewer on the Lady and the writing table. She is writing with a blue feather. I think that's the same Lady and writing table. Again, the painting looks like a snap of a scene. It is truly natural looking. All the details in the painting look identical to the painting of the Lady receiving the Letter. You can half see the painting on the wall. On the table, you can see a pearl necklace. Another, 5 stars for Vermeer.
The Concert
This one is called "The Concert". Here we see a man playing a lute next to a maiden playing the piano. The girl in blue is holding up a music sheet while she sings. Did you noticed that the piano has a painting on the bottom of the cover? Toward the foreground, I can see a cello.The red curtain looks pretty cute just lying there. The table creates a shadow that helps one focus on the concert. The paintings in the background looks pretty cute. In any case, 5 stars for the concert.
Diana and Her Companions
Some people think that this painting belongs to Vermeer. I will not argue with the experts but truly I have my doubts. Here is an interesting story: About 100 to 80 years ago, there was a guy who "discovered" a Vermeer painting. He was a con artist who developed a special way of making paint look old. Using this technique, he created a new and original "Vermeer" painting. He studied the artist and used all the classical characters.
Long story short, he sold it for like 20 to 30 million dollars (at a time when 5 cents was a lot of money) to a museum. Some of the rich men at the place started inquiring about this "discovery". When he could not come up with a satisfactory story they arrested the guy. After careful examination of the painting, it was discovered to be a perfect fake. When he was found out, the con artist shot himself.
In any case, I taught it was an interesting story worth sharing. For those that do not know, Diana is the virgin goddess of the forest. I think she is the daughter of Apollo. She is warrior like and has an army of amazons. In this scene, Diana (the girl in golden) is getting her feet cleaned by her servant. She has just stopped after a long barefoot hike. Beside her a lady in blue and red is rubbing her sore foot. They seem to be in the woods.
You know, I really do not think this is a Vermeer painting. He does not seem like the outdoor kind of person. Plus, he liked to use his camara oscura devise. It would be very hard (on his budget) to lug around the device from the woods back to his home every single day until the painting is finished. Plus, the arrangement is a bit awkward (he was a master of composition). Plus, I see no curtains in the horizon. In addition, I do not recognize the faces of any of the characters in this piece . In any case, this "Vermeer" painting is worth 5 star rating.
Gentleman and Lady Drinking Wine
I think this is not the painter's studio. The tiles are of a different checkerboard pattern. This time they are red and black. I seen this design most often at dinning tables or kitchens. It makes sense considering that the Lady is drinking wine. I like that Vermeer finally changed the dress of his Lady. I was growing bored of blue and golden. I am more into pink. Judging by the hat of the Gentleman, he must be a puritan merchant. The Lady is the only person drinking the wine. He must be giving her a sample of his merchandise. Look at how the expecting gaze of the Gentleman. He must be wondering if she liked the taste of it or not. She did finish the entire glass. I guess it must be have liked the wine.
Lets see scenery wise, I see a chair stuffed with a lute, a cushion and other things. You know the stained glass looks very pretty. Vermeer took great pains to make it realistic looking. I know cause I tackled (as in drawn) glass in the past. Its a very tricky "liquid" to work with. You know glass is a very hard liquid. If you look at very old glass you will notice that it is thicker at the bottom than at the top. The mantlepiece has a lot of nick picky details. Vermeer takes a lot of time and effort with garments. Just look at how fine and pretty her pink satin dress is. The lighting in this room looks pretty nice. It gives a mild, intimate, homely feeling to the painting. Truly, Vermeer is a 5 star worthy artist.
Girl Interrupted in Her Music
This is the same room as previous painting. Heck, I think that is the same puritan Gentleman. Its seem to me that the girl was interrupted by us viewer. She is looking directly at us. Both were reading a music piece. They seem to be very good friends. Perhaps, they were sharing an intimate moment when we arrived. The gentleman was in the process of taking the music sheet. Just look at the intimate fashion he is looming over girl. He must like her a lot. Composition wise, the Gentleman along with the furniture sinks toward the background. The girl is wearing red to emphasize the fact that she is the main character in this painting. In any case, this painting of Vermeer deserves 5 star rating.
Girl with a Pearl Earring
This painting is just as popular as the Mona Lisa. Even those that do not know about Vermeer are familiar with this painting. What is so fascinating about this girl? Well for starters she has an extremely pretty face. Her lips are crimson red and they shimmer all so prettily under the light. They are moist and sensual looking. They look kissable (as the phrase goes). She seems a bit timid, a bit scared. She is looking directly at the viewer. The pearl earring she wearing is identical to the earrings worn by the older lady in golden.
I do not think Vermeer used camara oscura. For starters the painting does not look mirror mode. The turban touching the edge of the painting. Also camara oscura is supposed to be used for panoramic (far away). This is a close up of a person's face. It makes no sense to use camara oscura.
This painting is so not like Vermeer usual work. It also lacks background. Vermeer loves to use background. Whenever he does not use it, he mainly focuses on a scene or an action. This maiden is just floating in black vacuum.
There is something else about the beauty of the girl. She looks idealized, perfect. Because of all the odd cropping errors, I believe that Vermeer was painting this maiden from memory. Vermeer lived near a port town. Dutch land was a vibrant nation. The Dutch traded often with people from many nations. They also had contact with Muslims. The turban is a Muslim fashion (possibly from the Northern African tribe). I think this Girl was the wife or daughter of a Muslim merchant. He probably bump into the girl and she gave Vermeer one frighten glance.
He was so struck by her beauty that she stayed in the back of his mind. Thus, one day he paints her on this canvas, the way he remembered her. This girl explains his fascination with pearls. The girl with the pearl earrings was his muse. This is the true story of this painting (frankly my version works better than this whole servant girl theory that's been flying around). The one that has fascinated viewers for generations. This painting truly is 5 star worthy.
The Guitar Player
As you can see, a guitar player. This maiden is looking at someone who is standing left of her. Judging by her hand she is in the process of playing the instrument. The hand position is correct. The entire light falls only on her hands and the instrument. Her face lies in shadows and it lacks details. The guitar looks pretty cute. It matches her jacket and the border of the painting ins the background. The only source of light is a window toward the top right. Eh... there is really not much to be said about this painting. 5 stars and good night to yah folks.
Saint Praxedis
Another painting that experts claim to have been made by Vermeer. I really do not see how it could possible belong to Vermeer. For starters Vermeer painting from real life. Plus, its a closeup and we already know that Vermeer loved his camara oscura. The color coating is different. Plus, the clothing is not richly refined. In any case, this "Vermeer" gets 5 stars for being so cute.
Soldier and a Laughing Girl
I thinks that's the same puritan gentleman. This time he is wearing a red attire. Looks good on him. The painting focuses mainly on the girl. The light falls on the laughing girl. The soldiers always have the most interesting witty stories. She must really like the guy. I think the map behind them shows the region of the middle east. Perhaps, Vermeer is implying of the nature of the soldier's anecdotal. In any case, this couple deserves 5 stars.
Study of a Young Woman
Ah... this gives me food for thought. It seems to me that this is the preliminary version of the Girl with a Pearl Earring. The model looks a lot like the down to earth version of the other girl. Truly, this gives me food for thought. No other study of Vermeer has been found. He really put a lot of time and effort into the Girl with a Pearl Earring. I guess he planned it to be his opus magnus. In any case, this study deserves 5 star rating.
The Astronomer
This one truly is the astronomer of Vermeer. He has a globe mapping the constellations in the sky. On the cabinet, I can see a fancy clock. Clocks are very important to astronomers. Depending on the time is when and were you can see certain stars or planets. Thus, this precise clock is needed to get all the numbers correctly for observation purposes. In front of the table I see some paper. I think the Astronomer and the Geographer were played by the same model. Both are wearing the same blue and red attire. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
The Girl with a Red Hat
I think this is the same model as the Young Girl with a Flute. Have you noticed that almost all of Vermeers paintings of closeup of young women are modeled after the Girl with a Pearl Earring. Heck, they all are wearing pearl earrings. This maiden has the same expression as that infamous paintings. Her lips are crimson and they are the only part of her face illuminated by sunlight. There are only three things that shine on her : the lips, the nose (?), and one of the pearl earrings. I can see why the big deal about the lips. Their color goes well with the hat. This painting also shows the three main colors preferred by Vermeer. One is the red hat, the other the blue dress and lastly, the golden background.
Uh... I have a new theory. This one unlike the Girl with a pearl earring and a Study of a Young Woman appears mirror mode. The composition is better cropped and refined. In addition, she has a background and is not floating in a black vacuum. Perhaps, those other paintings that I mentioned were simply preliminary drawings leading up to the Girl with a Red Hat. This explains the awkward composition on those two paintings. The characters were arranged for mirror mode purposes. I also noticed that all the models are the same except for the study and the girl with a pearl earring.
It makes sense that he would use random maiden for his preliminary drawings. He also seemed to be experimenting with head wear. The first had a veil, the second a turban. Eventually, Vermeer settled on a Red hat.Thus, the Girl with a Red Hat is the final painting. If that's the case, then my theory about the Girl with a Pearl earring is all hocus pocus (which is such a pity). Still, it does give one food for thought. In any case, this painting of Vermeer deserves 5 star rating.
The Lace maker
Well, here we have a lace maker. Toward the right, we see the instruments of her craft. She looks so serious, so focus on her work. Making Laces requires a firm hand and a lot of precision (specially when making rich lady's dresses). This lace maker seems well off. She is wearing a pretty golden dress. Toward the foreground, I can see Vermeer's ugly blue pillow and carpet. Coming out of the borders of the pillow, I can see red and white laces strings. Did you noticed that the chop stick like sewing sticks are of golden color? Ah... I see, if you see Golden in a Vermeer painting, remember that Vermeer wants you to focus on it. In any case, this painting deserves 5 stars.
The Little Street
Now this is quite the change of pace. This one is the lil street. As you noticed, it is a panoramic view. The image is well cropped and the perspective is perfect, sublime. There is only three characters in this painting. One is a lady sewing in front of her home. The one in gold is cleaning the floor. In the lil street, we see a maiden in red and blue. These are the fav colors of Vermeer. Using these familiar colors, Vermeer tells you were you can find the lil street. In any case, this witty painting deserve 5 star rating.
The Love Letter
This painting has quite the intimate feel about it. It is arranged to make the viewer feel like they are spying on these two characters. You already know the lute player. Her maid in a smiling, knowing, gossiping fashion is informing her mistress about the nature of the messenger. The mistress eyes are wide and attentive. Close to the foreground, you can see the mop and shoes of the maid. She must have been in the middle of cleaning the studio when someone called at the door. You know, in all letter related paintings we have seen these two characters. Perhaps, the letter paintings work in sequence. They tell a love story. Perhaps, Vermeer is drawing from his own experience for inspiration. In any case, this lovely painting deserves 5 star rating.
The Milkmaid
Above we see the Milkmaid, who is also the cleaner lady, the deliverer of mail ect. It seems that Vermeer only had one maid to work with. In any case, this maid is pouring milk into a basin. The table has a still life arrangement of food. In the corner, I see a basket and lil lantern. Judging by the floor, this must be the kitchen. There is a lil square something in the corner... for the life of me, I do not know what it is. The light falling from the window focuses the viewer's attention on the hands of the maid. They are red and pudgy. She must also do the laundry. As you noticed, her sleeves are rolled up. You can see the muscles of her arm. This maid has been working all her life. Aside from the color golden, there is not much to note about this painting. In any case, Vermeer's Milkmaid deserves 5 star rating.
The Music Lesson
This must be a different room of Vermeer's house. Tiles must have been real pop back then. Again, we see a varied checkerboard pattern. Toward the background, I can see the puritan giving lessons to the girl. In front of her, I can see a mirror. Her face is looking toward the puritan. They must be reading a music piece. Behind her, we can see the cello resting on the floor. The light completely illuminates the room. In any case, this arrangement is 5 star worthy.
The Procuress
The next one is called the Procuress. Here we see three drunken guys around a pretty maiden in golden. The man in red (who is also the puritan and the soldier) is giving a golden coin to the lady. Her cheeks are flushed but she means business. All the men look very jolly. The one closet to us is looking directly at the viewer. The entire scene focuses mainly on the Procuress and the soldier. They are wearing the loudest colors in this scene. The others seem to fade into the dark background. The one who stands out the most is the Procuress in golden. Truly, Vermeer knows how to use color. In any, case this painting is 5 star worthy.
View of Delft
Another view of the city. It seems that Vermeer only painted two locations of his home town. Close to the river, I can see two ladies next to a boat. Some people are boarding inside. The reflecting surface looks quite realistic. I think I see the lil street straight ahead of were the place were the two maidens are standing at. The entire painting is well cropped. There are some gentle black clouds coming overhead. Only a certain part of the city is illuminated by the sun. The city itself has Vermeer's fav blue, red and golden colors. You can see them in the red and blue roof tops. Golden can be found in the area were the sun is shining. Anyhow, this painting gets 5 star rating.
Woman Holding a Balance
The painting above shows a pretty lady with a balance. She is weighing her jewelery. She must be making certain that all her pearls are real. Any weight difference will make it a fake. She has the balance perfectly aligned. Her hands are really pretty. All the light is falling upon her. Behind her I can see a judgement day painting. This painting goes well with the whole judging the pearls thing. She is separating the real from the duds. In any case, this painting deserves 5 star rating.
Woman in Blue Reading a Letter
Well its pretty obvious what this painting is about. The woman's dress matches the chairs and the border of the map. Dresses were strange back then. I am not too fond of the Dutch baroque fashion. Eh... Whatever, there is not too much to be said about this painting. Has a 5 star composition.
A Pearl Necklace
Here we see the lady in gold admiring her necklace in a small mirror. The golden curtain guides our eyes toward that lil mirror. You can see that she also has those infamous giant pearl earrings. The painting is well balance. There is a lot on the bottom and a bit around the top. The main character is the only person under the sunlight. In any case, this painting deserves 5 stars.
Woman with Two Men
One of the men seems to be bored out of his mind. His pal ,however, is enjoying his play with the drunken woman. Just look at her bewildered expression. Its like she is saying to us, "what are u doing here (hiccup)". Her red dress looks pretty cute. She is holding up an empty glass of wine. Ah! We are almost done. 5 stars.
Young Woman with a Water Jug
Well, here is a woman with a Water Jug. She looks pretty opening the window. Her dress is of a deep blue with golden and white on top. The jug itself is also golden. I guess she is preparing to watch her hands. Behind her I can see a map. Lets just mover on, 5 star for gold, blue and red.
This is the last of Vermeer's paintings. This is one of those a painting within a painting. This format became popular during the baroque period. I think the first guy to do this was Velasquez. Anyhow, here we see Vermeer painting this lady in blue. Here we can appreciate how small scale of Vermeer's paintings. Its a wonder that he took an eternity or two. The curtain is parted, we are peeping inside his studio. The maiden that he is painting has a trumpet and a golden book. Perhaps she is his muse. Its a wonder how he was able to use camara oscura on himself. He looks silly, like a clown in that attire. Dutch fashion back then was really something else. In any case, this final painting deserves 5 stars.
I hope that you have enjoyed this Jan Vermeer blog. His work is quite fabulous. Its such a pity that he died of a brain fart at a young age. Then again, back then 50 was considered ripe old age. After this blog, I will write about the Simpsons and the arts. Later, I will start writing a series of informative, down to earth blogs. So, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
.
