A Stroke Of Genius: Johannes Vermeer

Dutch Baroque artist Johannes Vermeer (full name Jan Vermeer van Delft) was born in October, 1632 in Delft, Holland. Vermeer is dubbed one of greatest painters in Dutch history. He is best known for his most famous work Girl with a Pearl Earring, 1665.

Self Portrait, detail from The Procuress, 1656, en.wikipedia.org

The date of his birth is unknown. However, he was baptized on the 31st of October in 1632. I also couldn't find much information about his youth.

Another part of Vermeer's life that is unknown is where and whom he studied under. There's a rumor that he apprenticed under dutch painter Carel Fabritius. However, there is no evidence to prove that claim. There is also speculation that he was trained under Abraham Bloemaert due to their similar styles. Once again however, that cannot be proven. It is very well that Vermeer taught himself.

Months after he married his wife Catharina Bolenes, Vermeer became a member of a trade association for painters called the Guild of Saint Luke in December, 1653. Because that year was a time of war, plague and an economic crisis, Vermeer couldn't pay the admission fee. And, Vermeer wasn't the only one having financial problems around that time. Then in 1654, an explosion which was called the Delft Thunderclap destroyed a huge part of the city. However, in 1657, Vermeer may have found someone to lend him money, local art collector Pieter van Ruijven.

Judging by his painting style, Vermeer seemed to be inspired by the Leiden Fijnschilders, the painters from the Dutch Golden Age. And, just like Fijnschilders painter Gerlad Dou, Vermeer sold his paintings at crazy prices. However, that didn't seem to bother the secret art collector that was buying all his paintings.

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, 1654-55, www.nationalgalleries.org

His first few paintings include, similar to Diego Velázquez, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, 1654-55, Saint Praxedis, 1655, Diana and Her Companions, 1656, The Milkmaid, 1658 and The Little Street, 1658.

Saint Praxedis, 1655, en.wikipedia.org

Diana and Her Companions, 1656, en.wikipedia.org

The Milkmaid, 1658, en.wikipedia.org

The Little Street, 1658, www.joyofmuseums.com

Between 1662-1671, Vermeer was elected as head of the Guild of Saint Luke four times. During these years, he painted View of Delft, 1661, Woman Holding a Balance, 1663, The Art of Painting, 1666, Study of a Young Woman, 1667, The Lacemaker, 1669-70 and his most famous Girl with a Pearl Earring in 1665.

View of Delft, 1661, en.wikipedia.org

Woman Holding a Balance, 1663, www.nga.gov

The Art of Painting, 1666, www.medium.com

The Lacemaker, 1669-70, en.wikipedia.org

Girl with a Pearl Earring depicts a young European woman in an oriental turban, an exotic looking dress and a pearl earring. Study of a Young Woman is very similar. It's also a young European woman in exotic wear and jewelry. Both of which were most likely not commissioned paintings but tronies, paintings of stock characters in costume commonly used by Flemish and Dutch Golden Age artists.

Girl with a Pearl Earring, 1665, www.mauritshuis.nl

Study of a Young Woman, 1667, www.metmuseum.org

In 1672, an economic crisis struck once again in the Netherlands due to the invasion of Louis XIV. Shops, theaters, schools and courts closed due to the panic and two years later, Vermeer was listed as a member of the civic guards. In the summer of 1675, Vermeer had to borrow 1,000 guilders from art collector Jacob Romboutsz. In December of the same year, Vermeer died from illness.

Although, he is considered to be one of the greatest painters in Dutch history, he was rarely known outside of The Netherlands during the years he was alive. It wasn't until centuries after his death that his work became known around the world. So much so, a movie was made based on his Girl with a Pearl Earring.

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