The Girl with a Pearl Earring
An In-Depth Study by Jonathan Janson
The Girl with a Pearl Earring is universally recognized as one of Johannes Vermeer's absolute masterworks. After more than a century of study, the work still poses significant questions. Who was the sitter and was the painting even intended as a portrait? Why had it remained in complete obscurity until it was rediscovered in 1882 and sold for the price of a reproduction? Was it a part of a pendant? Did Vermeer sell the painting during his lifetime? Why was the original background a deep transparent green rather than the black we see today? Was the pearl a real one? What significance did the turban have? Which painting procedures did Vermeer employ? Which pigments did he use?
Girl with a Pearl Earring Resouces
Vermeer posters at ART.COM, the internet's largest and most reputable online postershop, more than 150,000 images - overview of painting materials and technique
- support
- sizing and grounding
- drawing
- underpainting
- palette
- working-up
- glazing
- pose and composition
- related forgeries
Painting Methods & Materials
Forgeries
The New Essential Vermeer Web Site
The complete Johannes Vermeer site including images of all the paintings and their locations, lost works, self-portrait, missing paintings, Vermeer's life, interpretations, techniques, clients and patrons, bibliography, thefts, auctions, forgeries, Delft, The Golden Age of Dutch Painting, relevant social history and much more
If you would like to receive (free of charge, naturally) site updates and information about exhibitions, periodicals, web sites, novels which are related to Vermeer's work, please click on the link above and leave your name (optional), and e-mail address. Any questions, comments and suggestions are also greatly appreciated.
Rembrandt van Rijn: Painting, Etching, Drawing, and Self Portraits
Hundred of high quality images of the Dutch Great Master
published: January 22, 2003
