Johannes Vermeer

Dutch Golden Age master Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) created some of the most beloved paintings in Western art, despite producing only 34-37 known works. Working in Delft his entire life, he specialized in domestic interior scenes featuring women engaged in quiet activities: reading letters, pouring milk, playing music. His paintings glow with serene light streaming through windows, illuminating carefully arranged spaces. Vermeer's meticulous technique involved building up translucent layers of paint to achieve extraordinary luminosity. He may have used a camera obscura, as pinholes discovered in his canvases suggest.

Vermeer registered as a master painter in Delft's Guild of Saint Luke in 1653 and was elected head of the guild twice. His father was an art dealer, a business Vermeer inherited. He fathered 14 children with wife Catharina Bolnes, converting to Catholicism for their marriage. Financial troubles plagued his final years, and he died at 43, leaving his family in debt. Almost forgotten after death, he was rediscovered in the 19th century. His works are now treasured: the Mauritshuis holds Girl with a Pearl Earring, while the Rijksmuseum owns The Milkmaid and other masterpieces.