Johannes Vermeer

(Dutch, 1632–1675)

Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch painter whose works are among the most admired in art history. With their sophisticated color harmonies, inventive compositions, and poetic use of light, Vermeer’s The Milkmaid (1658) and Woman Holding a Balance (1663) glow with a supernatural quality. Born on October 31, 1632 in Delft, Netherlands, his father was a weaver and later an art dealer, this is thought to have sparked the young Vermeer’s interest in painting. His training as an artist is unknown, as he had no identifiable teacher and no attributable students. Adding to this, there are only 36 surviving paintings by the artist, half of which were purchased by a single collector over the course of his career. Despite his mysterious schooling, Vermeer’s mature works exhibit subject matter which is very much in line with the milieu of several other genre painters of the time, including Pieter de Hooch and Gerard ter Borch the Younger. Though he mostly painted scenes from a middle distance, one of his best known works is the celebrated bust-length portrait, Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665), which depicts a young woman in exotic dress. The artist died on December 15, 1675 in Delft, Netherlands. Though not as well known as other painters during his lifetime, Vermeer’s work rose from obscurity to reverence during the mid-19th century. Today, his works are held in the collections of the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Maurithuis Royal Picture Gallery in The Hague, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and Courtauld Institute of Art in London, among others.

Johannes Vermeer News

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Art World

The Secrets of Vermeer’s Iconic ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’

by Karen Chernick
The Secrets of Vermeer’s Iconic ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring’
Archaeology & History

The Hunt: The World's Most Valuable Stolen Painting

by Verity Babbs
The Hunt: The World's Most Valuable Stolen Painting

Johannes Vermeer Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Johannes Vermeer (23 results)
FRÖHLICHE GESELLSCHAFT

Circle of Johannes Vermeer

FRÖHLICHE GESELLSCHAFT

Sale Date: September 24, 2021

Auction Closed

JUNGE FRAU MIT ÜBEREINANDERGELEGTEN HÄNDEN

Circle of Johannes Vermeer

JUNGE FRAU MIT ÜBEREINANDERGELEGTEN HÄNDEN

Sale Date: September 26, 2018

Auction Closed

Saint Praxedis, 1655

Johannes Vermeer

Saint Praxedis, 1655

Sale Date: July 8, 2014

Auction Closed

Young Woman Holding Wine Glass

After Johannes Vermeer

Young Woman Holding Wine Glass

Sale Date: March 8, 2014

Auction Closed

Art

After Johannes Vermeer

Art

Sale Date: March 8, 2014

Auction Closed

The Art of Painting

After Johannes Vermeer

The Art of Painting

Sale Date: November 14, 2012

Auction Closed

Girl Reading a letter at an open window, 1875–1899

After Johannes Vermeer

Girl Reading a letter at an open window, 1875–1899

Sale Date: July 22, 2012

Auction Closed

La servante endormie

After Johannes Vermeer

La servante endormie

Sale Date: December 10, 2011

Auction Closed

Herr und Dame beim Wein

After Johannes Vermeer

Herr und Dame beim Wein

Sale Date: November 16, 2010

Auction Closed

Das brieflesende Mädchen am offenen Fenster, 1672

After Johannes Vermeer

Das brieflesende Mädchen am offenen Fenster, 1672

Sale Date: November 12, 2010

Auction Closed

Plaque of a Dutch woman tatting lace

After Johannes Vermeer

Plaque of a Dutch woman tatting lace

Sale Date: October 20, 2009

Auction Closed

An interior with a young woman warming herself...

Follower of Johannes Vermeer

An interior with a young woman warming herself...

Sale Date: November 1, 2006

Auction Closed

View of Delft, 1700–1799

After Johannes Vermeer

View of Delft, 1700–1799

Sale Date: July 6, 2004

Auction Closed

A young woman seated at the virginals, 1670–1670

Johannes Vermeer

A young woman seated at the virginals, 1670–1670

Sale Date: July 7, 2004

Auction Closed

Bildnis einer jungen Frau mit..., 1600–1699

In the manner of Johannes Vermeer

Bildnis einer jungen Frau mit..., 1600–1699

Sale Date: March 4, 1997

Auction Closed

A woman reading a letter at a window

After Johannes Vermeer

A woman reading a letter at a window

Sale Date: December 12, 1996

Auction Closed

Dutch interior

In the manner of Johannes Vermeer

Dutch interior

Sale Date: January 19, 1995

Auction Closed

Lady with Turban

After Johannes Vermeer

Lady with Turban

Sale Date: September 11, 1994

Auction Closed

WOMAN READING A LETTER

After Johannes Vermeer

WOMAN READING A LETTER

Sale Date: July 9, 1992

Auction Closed

YOUNG WOMAN READING A LETTER AT A WINDOW

After Johannes Vermeer

YOUNG WOMAN READING A LETTER AT A WINDOW

Sale Date: April 18, 1991

Auction Closed

THE ARTIST IN HIS STUDIO

After Johannes Vermeer

THE ARTIST IN HIS STUDIO

Sale Date: February 28, 1991

Auction Closed

The lace maker

After Johannes Vermeer

The lace maker

Sale Date: February 6, 1990

Auction Closed

A street in Delft

After Johannes Vermeer

A street in Delft

Sale Date: January 15, 1986

Auction Closed

English (US)

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