Johannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer, the renowned Dutch painter, was baptized in Delft's Nieuwe Kerk in 1591. The baptism was witnessed by the notable Delft painter Leonaert Bramer.

In 1615, Vermeer's father, a silk weaver, married Digna Baltens in Amsterdam. The marriage was significant as Digna initially signed documents with a cross, indicating her illiteracy, but later learned to sign her full name. This event sheds light on the personal life of Vermeer's family during the early 17th century.

Vermeer's father became an art dealer and joined the Delft artists' guild on October 13, 1631. Before this, he worked as an innkeeper, a profession often linked to art dealing. He was also mentioned in a notary document as a silk worker.

Johannes Vermeer was born and baptized on October 31, 1632.

In 1640, Reynier Jansz. residing at Voldersgracht added the last name 'Vermeer' to his signature for the first time. The reason for this name change remains unknown.

In 1641, Reynier Janz. Vos purchased the heavily mortgaged 'Mechelen' inn in Delft for 2,700 guilders. The inn's location attracted customers from the middle classes and provided a meeting place for artists and collectors.

In January 1653, Johannes Vermeer created the painting 'Diana and her Companions'.

On April 5, 1653, Vermeer marries Catharina Bolnes, a member of a respected Catholic family from Gouda. The marriage witnesses include prominent figures like Leonaert Bramer. The event signifies a significant personal milestone in Vermeer's life.

Vermeer's marriage was documented in the vellum-bound registers of Delft's Old and New Churches, offering sparse glimpses into his life.

On April 24, 1653, Johannes Vermeer married Catharine Bolnes from a wealthy higher class Catholic family.

Vermeer registered as a master painter in the Delft Guild of Saint Luke on December 29, 1653. Little is known about his artistic training and early influences, including the identity of his master(s) and the period of his apprenticeship.

Vermeer, a Catholic, is believed to have converted to Catholicism after marrying Catharina, who was from a well-known family in Gouda. It is speculated that he distanced himself from his lower-class family after the marriage, as none of their fifteen children were documented with their parents' names.

On June 27, 1657, the inventory of the Amsterdam-based art dealer Johannes de Renialme lists 'een graf besoeckende van der Meer...' (a Visit to the Tomb by Van der Meer [Vermeer]).

On November 30, 1657, Vermeer and his wife acknowledge a debt of 200 guilders to Pieter Claesz van Ruijven, marking the beginning of a significant patron-artist relationship.

Vermeer's painting 'The Little Street' from 1658 is a departure from his usual interior scenes, depicting a street view with meticulous attention to detail and atmosphere.

Vermeer's genre painting, Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, depicts a young woman reading a letter in a quiet space filled with radiant light. The influence of Gerard Terborch is evident in the texture and domestic setting.

A painting created in 1660 depicting a cityscape of Delft, Netherlands.

On December 27, 1660, a child of Johannes Vermeer living on the Oude Langedijck is buried in the Old Church (Oude Kerk) in Delft, providing evidence that Vermeer and his family were residing in Maria Thins' home.

In December 1661, another of Vermeer's children is buried in the Oude Kerk, in a grave bought by their grandmother Maria Thins.

On May 15, 1662, Maria Thins, the mother-in-law of Vermeer, revises her will originally made in 1657. She includes provisions for her daughter Catharina, goddaughter Maria, and Vermeer's children, as well as granting Vermeer an annual sum of 50 gulden.

On October 18, 1662, Vermeer is appointed as the vice-dean of his guild, leading to a revision of the apprenticeship enrollment fee to boost financial resources.

On November 12, 1663, Vermeer is recorded as an outgoing headman of the Guild of Saint Luke in Delft. The incoming headman is Anthonie Palamadesz, a well-known painter specializing in interior scenes. This transition signifies the dynamic artistic community in Delft during that period.

A masterpiece by Johannes Vermeer showing a woman holding a balance, symbolizing themes of judgment and moderation.

A famous painting by Johannes Vermeer depicting a young woman wearing a turban and a large pearl earring.

A renowned painting by Johannes Vermeer portraying an artist at work in his studio, reflecting on the nature of art and creativity.

In 1670, Vermeer is appointed as one of the two representatives of the painters in the Guild of Saint Luke in Delft. The Guild's artists were not as numerous as before, but Vermeer took on his guild duties amidst life's challenges.

On December 1, 1675, Johannes Vermeer was buried in the Oude Kerk in Delft. The funeral was elaborate, involving fourteen pallbearers and tolling of the church bell, indicating a significant financial expenditure.

Johannes Vermeer, the renowned Dutch painter, died at the age of 43 after facing financial pressures and the collapse of the art market during the war with France. His wife attributed his death to stress and financial difficulties.

On December 16, 1675, the renowned Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer passed away in Delft. Vermeer was a member of the Saint Luke's Guild, which required painters to undergo a six-year apprenticeship with a master painter. By being part of the guild, Vermeer was able to sign and sell his own paintings.

An inventory of movable objects from Vermeer's estate is compiled on February 20. Anthonie Leeuwenhoek, inventor of the microscope, is appointed executor of the estate.

On September 30, the Lords Aldermen of Delft appoint Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, inventor of the microscope, as the executor of Vermeer's estate.

Leeuwenhoek appears before the Lords Aldermen of Delft on February 2 to settle Vermeer's debt with Jannetje Stevens.

A public sale of Vermeer's paintings is planned in the Guild Hall on March 15. Maria Thins objects to including 'The Art of Painting' in the sale.

Following the death of Maria de Knuijt and Pieter van Ruijven, Jacob Dissius draws up an inventory of his possessions, owning 19 Vermeers.

Vermeer's works were largely overlooked for two centuries after his death until German museum director Gustav Waagen rediscovered his painting The Art of Painting in 1860, previously attributed to Pieter de Hooch.

Théophile Thoré-Bürger published a catalogue raisonné of Vermeer's works in 1866 in the Gazette des Beaux-Arts, listing more than 70 works by the artist and drawing international attention to Vermeer.

John Michael Montias' book, Vermeer and His Milieu: A Web of Social History, published in 1989, sheds light on Vermeer's life and social environment, becoming a foundational work for further research on the artist.

In 2001, British artist David Hockney published the book Secret Knowledge, proposing the theory that Vermeer and other artists used optics like curved mirrors, camera obscura, and camera lucida to achieve precise positioning in their compositions.

In 2008, Tim Jenison developed a theory that Vermeer used a camera obscura along with a 'comparator mirror' or a concave mirror to match color values, which he tested by recreating The Music Lesson painting in the documentary film Tim's Vermeer.

To mark the 26th anniversary of the opening of an exhibition at Washington, DC's National Gallery of Art featuring his work, Google honored Vermeer with a Google Doodle on 12 November 2021.

In 2023, an exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam featured 28 of Vermeer's works, the most ever shown together. Over 650,000 people visited the exhibition, making it the museum's most visited exhibition.