Posted on 10/13/2025 2:07:41 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Possible identity of "Mona Lisa of the North" has been revealed by a British art historian.
A mysterious girl with a pearl earring from Johannes Vermeer's famous painting was likely the daughter of the painter's commissioner, a historian has revealed. The 17th-century Dutch painter Vermeer worked almost exclusively for Pieter van Ruijven and Maria de Knuijt, a Dutch husband and wife in Delft. This has been revealed by Andrew Graham-Dixon, the art historian and TV presenter, claiming the girl wearing the pearl earring in the renowned oil painting is likely the couple's daughter, Magdalene.
The wealthy family were members of a rebellious religious sect known as the Remonstrants, while the wife belonged to the Collegiants, an even more radical group. The evangelical Christians were a prohibited organisation who held Quaker-like beliefs, such as pacifism and the pursuit of an egalitarian society. They were also advocates of feminism and the absolute equality of men and women. According to a new book on Vermeer by Graham-Dixon, Maria was the painter's principal commissioner.
Scans of Girl With a Pearl Earring Reveal Painting's Hidden Secrets
Beautiful! I had not seen that until now.
Well, the Remonstrants were not "evangelical Christians" as most Evangelicals would acknowledge them today, especially those of a Calvinistic bent, as they were actually Arminians. The article also mentions that the mother of this family was Catholic, perhaps with Remonstrant sympathies.
The movie, ‘Girl with the pearl earring’ is really good, not at all true but very beautifully done. You might watch that.
I saw it on exhibit in DC. Absolutely breathtaking! Vermeer total paintings were less than 50 I believe. Not prolific but a genius of the art.
This is news?
What other ugly girl would a guy paint than the commissioner’s ugly daughter or wife?
She probably hated it so never came forward.
Waldemar Januszczak challenges the traditional notion of the Renaissance having fixed origins in Italy and showcases the ingenuity in both technique and ideas behind great artists such as Van Eyck, Memling, Van der Weyden, Cranach, Riemenschneider and Durer.The Great Myths Of The Renaissance
(Waldemar Januszczak Documentary) | 59:51
Perspective | 494K subscribers | 1,465,333 views | September 12, 2020
A few years ago I read a book with that title. I wonder if it was the same story. In the book it was a servant girl in the household where the artist was working or living. I wonder if the owner’s daughter would have been wearing such a plain headdress, so the idea of this being a servant girl made sense to me.
A novel?
https://search.brave.com/search?q=the+girl+with+the+pearl+earring&summary=1
[snip] The work acquired its current title in the late 20th century, having previously been known as Girl with a Turban. [/snip]
Book:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/292577/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-by-tracy-chevalier/
Movie:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335119/
There are really two Girl With a Pearl Earring paintings. The one most people are familiar with has tan skin tones and yellow highlights. Once it was restored and the aged varnish removed about thirty years ago, the girl’s skin became pink and the highlights opened up. I have both versions hanging in different parts of my house and I go back and forth about which one I like better. One surprise the restored version revealed is that what was always thought to be a pearl earring was probably polished tin.
Interesting. Those would add a lot of charm to anyplace.
Funny 😄
That guy is so entertaining. Have watched several of his videos. Very insightful.
Wholeheartedly agree.
Vermeer paints wth light. Tthe glistening pearl shining in a darker background draws one's attention to the maid's goodnsss, innocence, and peace, seeming to invite you to share her moment of quiet silence.
Just rambling about my most favorite illustration of an ordered calmness that blesses one's soul. A way to find rest.
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