The Sphinx of Delft: Vermeer’s Masterpieces

Interesting online lecture from Stella Grace Lyons on Johannes Vermeer.

Vermeer is one of my favourite artists so I was looking forward to this talk and it didn’t disappoint. Taking six paintings Stella took us though his short career pointing out the main themes and ideas. She included his two outdoor works, “View of Delft” and “The Little Street” as well as the unusual “Allegory of the Catholic Church”, a classic “Girl Reading a Letter at a Window” and of course “The Milkmaid” (a detail of which is shown here) and “Girl with the Pearl Earring”.

She also talked about how little is known about Vermeer’s life. As he didn’t have a studio, was also an art dealer and we only know of 39 paintings but him, she speculated that in a sense he may have painted in his spare time. She also ruminated on the peacefulness of his pictures which he produced in a house with 11 children.

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