Jan Vermeer and his works
Dutch artist Jan Vermeer is better known for his Delft paintings, including ‘Little Street‘ and ‘Delft view‘ and his ‘Pearl photos‘, as ‘girl with a pearl slope‘.
Who was Jan Vermeer?
Jan Vermeer was born Circa October 31, 1632, in Delft, Holland. In 1652, he joined the Delft painters guild. Served as his dean from 1662 to 63, and again from 1669 to 70. His first works include ‘sleeping girl on the table’. As his style matured, he painted ‘Little Street’ and ‘Delft view’. After 1660, Vermeer painted his ‘Pearl photos’, including ‘The Concert’ and ‘Girl with a pearl slope’. He died in Delft around December 16, 1675.
Early life
Born in Delft, Holland, around October 31, 1632, Johannes Vermeer is one of the most appreciated Dutch artists of all time. His works have been a source of inspiration and fascination for centuries, but much of his life remains a mystery. His father, Reynier, came from a family of artisans in the city of Delft, and his mother, dignified, had a flamenco background.
After his baptismal registration in a local church, Vermeer seems to disappear for almost 20 years. He probably had a Calvinist raising. His father worked as a guardian of Taberna and art merchant, and Vermeer inherited both of these businesses at the death of his father in 1652. The following year, Vermeer married Catharina Bolnes. Bolnes was a Catholic, and Vermeer became his faith. The couple moved with their mother, and eventually had 11 children together.
Important works
In 1653, Jan Vermeer registered in the Delft guild as a master painter. There is no record with whom he may have been apprentice, or if he studied locally or abroad. Vermeer definitely had at least one friendship with Delft’s outstanding painter, Leonard Bramer, who became one of his first followers. Some experts also believe that Vermeer could have been influenced by Rembrandt’s works through one of Rembrandt’s students, Carel Fabritius.
Caravaggio’s influence is apparent in Vermeer’s first works, including ‘La Procuress’ (1656). The painter also explored mythology in ‘Diana and his companions’ (1655-56) and religion in ‘Christ in the house of Mary and Marta’ (C. 1655). At the end of the decade, Vermeer’s unique style began to emerge.
Many of Vermeer’s masterpieces focus on domestic scenes, including ‘The Milkmaid’ (C. 1657-58). This representation of a woman in the middle of her work exhibits two of her brands: her realistic representations of figures and objects, and her fascination with light. Many of his works have a luminous quality, including the ‘girl with a pearl slope’ (1665).
Vermeer enjoyed some success in Delft, selling his works to a small number of local collectors. It also served as head of the local artistic guild for a while. However, Vermeer was not well known outside his community during his life.
Last years and legacy
Jan Vermeer fought financially in his last years, due in large part to the fact that the Dutch economy had suffered terribly after the country was invaded by France in 1672. Vermeer was deeply indebted at the time of his death;He died in Delft around December 16, 1675.
Since his death, Vermeer has become a world -renowned artist, and his works have been hung in many prominent museums around the world. Despite how much he is admired today, Vermeer left a small legacy in terms of real works – approximately 36 paintings have officially attributed the painter.
One of Vermeer’s most famous works inspired the girl in the 1999 novel with a pearl slope of Tracy Chevalier, as well as a film adaptation of this book 2003.
In 2018, the MauritShuis Real Image Gallery in The Hague, Holland, would embark on a two -week non -invasive study of ‘Girl with a pearl slope’. Through the use of new exploratory technologies, the museum intended to answer centenary questions about Vermeer’s techniques and materials used for painting.
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