Vermeer Dies

Jan Vermeer (1632-1675) was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age, active in the city of Delft. He died there in 1675, leaving a relatively small body of work; only some three dozen paintings are securely attributed to him today.

Vermeer was celebrated above all for his subtle and luminous treatment of light, which fell softly across the quiet domestic interiors he favored, often showing a single figure absorbed in an everyday task. Among his best-known works are The Milkmaid, depicting a servant pouring milk, the cityscape View of Delft, and the portrait Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Largely forgotten after his death, Vermeer was rediscovered by critics in the nineteenth century and elevated to the front rank of Dutch masters. His meticulous compositions and serene atmosphere are now admired as among the supreme achievements of European painting.