Girl with a Pearl Earring

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For other uses, see Girl with a Pearl Earring (disambiguation).
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Johannes Vermeer, circa 1665–1675
Oil on canvas
44.5 × 39 cm
Mauritshuis, The Hague

The Girl with a Pearl Earring (Dutch: Het Meisje met de Parel) is one of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer's masterworks and as the name implies, uses a pearl earring for a focal point. The painting is currently housed at The Mauritshuis in The Hague. It is sometimes referred to as "the Mona Lisa of the North" or "the Dutch Mona Lisa".

[edit] Background

In general, very little is known about Vermeer and his works. This painting is signed "IVMeer", but not dated. It is unclear whether or not this work was commissioned, and if so by whom. In any case, it is probably not meant as a conventional portrait.

More recent Vermeer literature points to the image being a 'tronie', the Dutch 17th century description of a ’head’ that was not meant to be a portrait. After the most recent restoration of the painting in 1994 the subtle colour scheme and the intimacy of the girl’s gaze onto the spectator has been greatly enhanced.[1] (The image shown here is from before the most recent restoration in 1994 and therefore not representative of the current condition of painting)

On the advice of Victor de Stuer, who for years tried to prevent Vermeer's rare works from being sold to parties abroad, A.A. des Tombe purchased the work at an auction in The Hague in 1881 for only two guilders and thirty cents. At the time, its condition was very bad. Des Tombe had no heirs and donated this and other paintings to the Mauritshuis in 1902.[2]

In 1937, a very similar painting, at the time also thought to be by Vermeer, was donated by collector Andrew W. Mellon to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It is now widely considered to be a fake. Vermeer expert Arthur Wheelock claimed in a 1995 study that it is by 20th century artist and forger Theo van Wijngaarden, a friend of Han van Meegeren.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wadum, Jørgen; With contributions by L. Struik van der Loeff and R. Hoppenbrouwers (1994). Vermeer illuminated. Conservation, Restoration and Research.. The Hague. 
  2. ^ a b Vrij Nederland (magazine) (February 26 1996), p. 35–69.

[edit] See also