Girl with a Pearl Earring

The Girl with a Pearl Earring ( Dutch: Het meisje met de parel ) is the most popular painting by Jan Vermeer. Awareness of the 1665 incurred, 45 centimeters high and 40 centimeters wide, painted with oil on canvas portraits based primarily on the modern reception and the fact that this work of hanger successful Vermeer exhibition at the Mauritshuis in The Hague in 1995 and 1996.

Description

The painting Girl with a Pearl Earring is a girl without providing it with attributes in a narrative context. Who is pictured, is not known. It could have been a paid model, or the image was a commission. The portrait is carried as a shoulder piece, so that the shoulder approaches are seen. Thus, the image ends at the level of the shoulders. The girl is wearing a brownish- yellow jacket, from which the white collar clearly contrasts. In addition, the jacket forms a contrast to the blue turban with yellow, falling, cloth. It is a sign of the existing at that time interest in oriental culture as a result of the Turkish wars. In the 17th century turbans were therefore a popular and widely used accessory in Europe. Particularly striking is the pearl of the girl's ear that stands out from the shadow zone of the neck and sparkles in the light. The girl interacts with the viewer by looks at him directly and slightly opens his mouth, which is often the suggestion of a speech by the image viewer in the Dutch painting. The inclined head the appearance of lost in thought in the viewer causes.

The image background is neutral and very dark, but due to its variegation not black. It amplifies the brightness of the girl, provided by its skin. The girl's dress was painted by Vermeer with nearly pure colors.

Restoration

During the restoration of the painting in 1994, the old varnish was removed and replaced by a new, so that the colors appear brighter. In this case, a small point of white color was evident on the right side of the lower lip. In addition, it was found that on the pearl reflection was too much to see that did not come from Vermeer.

Provenance

The Girl with a Pearl Earring in 1881 auctioned in The Hague. While visiting the image Victor de Stuers, one occupied with art Dutch officials fell on, who recommended his friend, art collector Andries Arnoldus of Tombe it. From this incident, there are two different representations. One of them claims Stuers would have recognized despite the bad condition of the image as a Vermeer, the other suggests that the authorship of Vermeer was shown only after cleaning with the excavation of the signature. Stuers decided not against the Tombe to offer, the auctioned it for two florins and a premium of 30 cents.

The portrait was, as the entire collection of Tombes, accessible to the public in his house where there is 1885 Abraham Bredius praised as a work of Vermeer for the first time. After the death of Tombes went the image as it was available in his secret will, over 15 additional plants in the possession of the Mauritshuis.

Reception

In recent times, the picture was The Girl with a Pearl Earring rezipiert propagated and thus is regarded as the most famous piece Vermeer. The 2001 published novel The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier is concerned with the question of who is the woman in the picture, and develops a fictional story about the maid Griet sitting for the image model. 2003 book by the British film director Peter Webber was filmed. The main roles Scarlett Johansson plays Griet as a maid and Colin Firth embodies Jan Vermeer. The girl with the pearl earring has received several awards and was nominated for three Oscars. In Legoset 60008 " Museum Robbery " is a very similar " picture" included.