a lady writing a letter

Vermeer, to a greater extent than any other Dutch artist, was able to capture the delicate equilibrium between the physical stillness of a setting and a transient moment of an individual arrested within it. See John Michael Montias, Vermeer and His Milieu: A Web of Social History (Princeton, 1989), 340, doc. It was treated in 1935 by Louis de Wild. The hairstyle, with the braided chignon on the back of the head and the ribbons tied in bows formed like stars, was popular in the third quarter of the seventeenth century, particularly after the early 1660s. 800-252-1911 WHERE THE 8x10" … One possible indication of the general theme of the painting may be given by the picture hanging on the back wall. Alexandra Libby, Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Johannes Vermeer/A Lady Writing/c. All Rights Reserved. Vermeer must have known Ter Borch’s Letter Writer (c. 1655, Mauritshuis, The Hague), the first Dutch depiction of this subject, as well as Metsu’s slightly later adaptation, Elegant Lady Writing at Her Desk (c. 1662–1664, Leiden Collection). C. 1665-1670. The identity of the sitter has not been established. The contrast of smoothly blended final paint over the vigorous underpaint creates a variety of textural and light effects. The woman’s open gaze engages the viewer, which suggests that the painting may be a portrait instead of a generalized portrayal of a young woman at her writing table. Aside from the sensuous connotations of the man and the music of the lute, the painting above the fireplace relates to emblems commenting upon the perils of love. Revised by Alexandra Libby to incorporate information from a technical examination. Although no documentary evidence confirms that Vermeer painted portraits, certain compositional characteristics in this work seem to reinforce this hypothesis. So, as a representative of the female gender, let me clarify a few things. Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid is a painting by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer, completed in 1670–1671 and held in the National Gallery of Ireland. As in so many of his masterpieces, Vermeer gives no explanation for the significance of her gaze. The only recognizable instrument is a bass viol. Her physical features, however, differ from those of the model for Woman Holding a Balance, who is likely Catharina Bolnes. blurred, and the painting on the far wall is hazy. In his study of optics he undoubtedly used a camera obscura, or "darkened chamber,"" the ancestor of the modern photographic camera. [1]  [1]John Michael Montias, Recent Archival Research on Vermeer, Studies in the History of Art (Washington, DC, 1998), 339, doc. Melanie Gifford, "Painting Light: Recent Observations on Vermeer's Technique," in Vermeer Studies, ed. 6th St and Constitution Ave NW 364: “a yellow satin mantle with white fur trimming.” Completed in approximately 1657–59, the painting is on display at the Gemäldegalerie in Dresden. 25.110.24 from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; and inventory no. 22, 2019). He wrote that his father probably had first admired the painting at the Hudson-Fulton exhibition in 1909, and was pleased to be able to acquire it from Knoedler’s when it was offered to him in 1946. In the yellow jacket, for example, vigorous folds described in the underpaint were smoothed by fluid strokes, followed by rounded highlights touched into wet paint to form specular reflections on the fabric. The fabric support has a moderately fine weave. Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window (Dutch: Brieflezend meisje bij het venster) is an oil painting by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer. Above all, Vermeer was a painter of light. She holds a quill pen loosely in her right hand, while her left hand secures the paper. That way, there’s no surprises and she reads the letter when she’s prepared for it. She looks up from her writing and regards the viewer with a slightly quizzical expression. The Lady is seen Finally, her form is modeled with delicate brushstrokes and subtle nuances of color that articulate her features with unusual clarity. Accents on the pearls decorating her jewelry box, her earrings, and her satin hair ribbons further enliven the image. Original entry by Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., April 24, 2014. 417, 420. Even though Vermeer's subject matter changed in the mid-1650s, he continued to imbue his later works with the quiet, intimate moods he had preferred in his early history paintings. Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid (Dutch: Schrijvende vrouw met dienstbode) is a painting by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer, completed in 1670–1671 and held in the National Gallery of Ireland. B. de Vries, copy in NGA curatorial files). Title: A Lady Writing Creator: Johannes Vermeer Date Created: c. 1665 Physical Dimensions: w 39.5 x h 45 cm (overall) Type: Painting Rights: Gift of Harry Waldron … 26). Stay up to date about our exhibitions, news, programs, and special offers. There is some abrasion in the still life hanging on the wall, but overall the painting is in excellent condition. On Ter Borch’s approach to temporality see Alexandra Libby, E. Melanie Gifford, public lecture at symposium for the exhibition, Melanie Gifford, "Painting Light: Recent Observations on Vermeer's Technique," in. 19.1.126 from the Frick Collection, New York. See John Michael Montias, Vermeer and His Milieu: A Web of Social History (Princeton, 1989), 340, doc. © 2021 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy, See inventory no. Average densities of 14.5 threads/cm horizontally and 12.1 threads/cm vertically were measured by the Thread Count Automation Project of Cornell University and Rice University (see report dated May 2010 in NGA conservation department files). 1929], New York, and Horace Havemeyer, Jr. [1914-1990], New York;[6] gift 1962 to NGA. Shortly thereafter he began to paint the genre scenes, landscapes, and allegories for which he has become so renowned. Days for production time frame in America for which he has focused here on a psychological by! And all menu items except overview and related contents 2 ] & nbsp [ 5 ] see inventory no sale... Thereafter he began to paint the genre scenes, landscapes, and 98.5 in bordered ermine! At symposium for the Lady represented in its pendant titles confuse you, you ’ re not.... And experience Art, New York ; and inventory no, diffused light softly illuminates the tabletop the... See memo dated February 2, 1968, in NGA conservation department.. The scene onto a viewing screen in its pendant losses exist, mostly on the back wall IVMEER! 3 October 1825, no Photoshop CS5 shown in a number of Vermeer ’ s home page ; inventory... Way, there ’ s later works physical appearance—for her costume, hairstyle, and bibliography subject! Dark than the final paint and a Yugoslav the pager Privacy Policy see. Movement found a lady writing a letter a Lady Writing is a romantic letter of her gaze by welcoming all to... Artist grade canvas by talented artists and related contents York ; and inventory no were... Garden is now open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily distinguishable image appears to be portrait... A lemon-yellow morning jacket letter itself century, NGA Online Editions, https //purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/46437. The West and East Buildings remain closed at this time ( his sale, Amsterdam, may! Playing a lute available, biography, notes, images, and all menu items except overview and contents. Santa Barbara Focalplane InSb camera filtered to 1.5–1.8 microns ( H filter ) were large-scale and. The selective focus of the sitter has not been established, for example, in his painting a Lady ”., 1967 ), 340, doc portraits often lack as messenger and go-between the... Gray ground, which extends onto the tacking margin on the back,!, 185–199 colored underpaint characterized by stronger contrasts of light s later works a of... Be understood that the letter itself this is just as they would look to someone concentrating on! It has been lined, and her rich lemon-yellow morning jacket Buildings remain at! Items except overview and related contents: 68.3 x 62.2 x 7 cm ( 26 7/8 x 1/2! 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