Vermeer: Portraits of Women Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Procuress

Although we might consider the subject matter of this painting to be somewhat risque by 17th century standards, such paintings were frequently found in respectable homes. They were considered a sort of visual cautionary tale, warning against vice, drunkeness, and excess. A painting of the same title by Dirck van Baburan was owned by Vermeer's mother-in-law, and can be seen in the backround of two of Vermeer's own paintings: "The Concert" and "Lady Seated at a Virginal".

Van Baburan's painting depicts a buxom young woman playing a lute to entertain one of her "clients". An aged, toothless woman (clearly the "procuress" of the title) stands at the right and points to her empty palm, as a reminder of the fee owed her for arranging the tryst. Vermeer's treatment of the subject is quite different; here the procuress of the title is a black-clad figure, barely noticeable in the background. The scene takes place, not in a brothel, but in what seems to be a respectable home, and the central female figure is probably the lady of the house. The wine that has brought color to her cheeks has also loosened her virtue; she accepts both the young man's coin and his hand groping her breast. A rather costly wine carafe of painted porcelain and silver stands at the edge of the table near her elbow. It's extremely precarious position (one move of her arm will send it crashing to the floor) stands as a metaphor for the state of her virtue.

This painting contains a possible self-portrait of the artist; the gentleman standing at the extreme left of the painting is believed to be Vermeer himself.

Answer: The Letter (a.k.a. Woman in Blue)

The young woman in this painting appears to be with child, which has given rise to speculation that the model was Vermeer's own wife Catherina, who bore him fifteen children. There is some question as to whether she is indeed pregnant, or whether the garment she is wearing (known as a farthingale) simply gives the appearance of pregnancy. The general consensus seems to be that she is with child, but that she is not necessarily Vermeer's wife. A map on the wall behind the woman (maps frequently feature in the background of Vermeer's paintings) suggests that possibly the letter is from someone traveling abroad (probably her husband).

The 1657 painting "Woman Reading a Letter by an Open Window" is similar in several respects, and uses apparently the same model. X-rays indicate that this earlier painting included a painting of a cupid on the wall behind the girl, indicating that she was reading a love letter.

Answer: Girl With a Red Hat

You can almost feel the warmth of the hat's bright red fur in this painting. The hat shades the upper half of the girl's head, drawing the viewer's attention to her lips, which echo the redness of the hat. As with "The Lacemaker", there are indications that Vermeer used a camera obscura for this portrait.

The rather blurred quality of the carved woodwork towards the front of the painting is typical of the effect that a camera obscura gives.

Answer: Girl With a Pearl Necklace

The young woman's expression is one of awe verging on delight as she holds the necklace up to her throat. Pearls were a common feature in Vermeer's paintings (as we'll see further), and he painted them with great skill. The gold-colored dress, luxuriously trimmed with ermine, will also feature in a number of other paintings.

A letter on her dressing table indicates that she is adorning herself for a tryst with a lover.

Answer: Young Woman With a Water Pitcher

This was the first Vermeer painting I ever saw, and it remains my favorite. The brass pitcher and tray are also beautifully rendered. The map on the wall behind features in a number of Vermeer's paintings. It has been suggested that this painting is an allegory of virtue; the woman looks through the open window to the world outside. On the table are the water pitcher (symbolizing purity and virtue) and a box of pearls and laces (symbolic of worldly luxury).

Her hand is upon the pitcher, indicating the choice she has made. On a more basic level, this can be viewed simply as a genre painting.

Answer: The Lacemaker

The brightly colored threads spilling out of the pillow in the foreground of the painting are in much less clear focus than the young woman's features. The red threads at the forefront form a rather arabesque pattern and take on an almost liquid quality.

The making of lace by hand was laborious and intricate work, and required considerable skill and concentration, which this painting masterfully portrays. Much of this young woman's downcast head is buried in the shadows; only her skillful hands are fully lighted.

Answer: Girl Asleep at a Table

The girl has nodded off with her chin resting on her hand; one senses that she will start awake at any moment. The wine on the table suggests the cause of her unusual drowsiness. Many 17th century Dutch paintings depicted servant girls who had fallen asleep after dipping into the wine; in this painting, the girl's elegant dress, and the fact that she is seated at table, suggest that she is the lady of the house. Oriental carpets, such as the one in this painting, were frequently used as table coverings in Vermeer's time.

Answer: The Letter (a.k.a. The Love Letter)

We see the figures of maid and mistress through a doorway at the end of a darkened hallway, which is partially covered by a curtain. This gives the impression that we are covertly observing a rather intimate exchange. The maid's sly expression, and the rather furtive upward glance of the mistress suggest that the letter is from a lover (hence the painting's title).

Answer: Woman Weighing Pearls (a.k.a. Woman Weighing Gold)

The woman is weighing earthly goods while, in the painting behind her, the souls of humans are weighed in the balance, creating an interesting allegory. The partially drawn curtain over the window darkens the room, so that the pearls on the table shine almost like stars.

Although the title "Woman Weighing Pearls" is more commonly used, it has been noted that there are no pearls in the scales which the woman is holding. The scales seem to hold gold coins, such as those seen at the front of the table, hence the alternate (and probably more accurate title) "Woman Weighing Gold".

Answer: The Milkmaid (a.k.a. The Cook)

In the Netherlands, dairy products were (and are) an important staple of the diet, so the dairy maid held an important place in any Dutch household. Here, she pours milk (or cream) from her jug into a tureen on the table. The humble elements in this painting- the bread on the table, the nearly bare wall behind the maid, pockmarked with nail holes, and the simple cloths covering the table- are unique among Vermeer's paintings. Also unusual are the coarse textures; the young woman's clothing is clearly of rather rough material, with the stitches very much in evidence, and even her skin is far from smooth.

Despite the humble subject matter, this painting was justly famous, even in Vermeer's time, and sold for quite a high price at the sale of Vermeer's estate in 1696 (after his death).

Answer: The Music Lesson (a.k.a. Girl Standing at a Virginal)

The girl stands at the virginal; we see her face in the mirror above. A large cello (or bass violin) lies on the floor behind her. Another painting entitled "Woman Standing at a Virginal" shows a woman in a blue dress who faces the viewer. In yet another painting, a girl sits at the virginal. Mastering the keyboard was an approved pastime for young maidens in Vermeer's time which, in fact, is why these instruments were called "virginals".

In this painting, the lid of the virginal is, typically, raised.

A Latin inscription can clearly be read on the inside of the cover: "Musica Laetitiae Comes Medicina Dolorum" ("Music is the companion for joy and a medicine for sorrow"). It is not clear whether the young man to the right of the painting is the music master, or (which is more likely) a young suitor.

Answer: Soldier With Laughing Girl

The look of entertainment and infatuation on the face of the girl as she listens to the dashing soldier is the focus of this painting. The light which falls on her face, and her white cap emphasize her innocence, while the shadowy soldier appears rather sinister by comparison.

Answer: The Guitar Player

This painting is a study in shades of gold and yellow. The young woman wears the yellow, ermine trimmed farthingale which features in a number of other paintings ("The Love Letter", "Woman With a Pearl Necklace", "Lady Writing a Letter", "Lady With a Maidservant", and "Woman Plying a Lute Near a Window", which is similar in some respects to "The Guitar Player" and uses possibly the same model), the gold of the picturse frame, the deep honey-yellow of the wood forming the body of the instrument, and the elegant, gilded circular inset under the strings.

These colors give brightness to the rather dim room in which the young woman is sitting. She smiles, and glances to the left of the painting, suggesting that she is playing for a companion or visitor outside of the range of the portrait.

Answer: Young Woman With a Wineglass

There is another painting entitled "A Glass of Wine" (1658-60), considerably different in tone, which uses this same room setting and similar elements. In that painting, the young woman has drained a glass of wine, which almost covers her face (her eyes are hidden behind her head covering). At her side is a young man, who stands ready to refill her empty glass. The suggestion is that the young woman has fallen completely under the influence of wine (and, by inference, to the young man who is plying her with drink), a suggestion reinforced by the allegorical figure of Temperance on the staained glass winow to the left.

The tone of "Young Woman with a Wineglass" is much lighter, although the warning elements are still present. Here, the girl holds a partially filled glass, her hand being supported by the rather seedy gentleman at her side (it is not clear whether she is handing him the glass, after having tasted it, or whether he is trying to coax the glass to her lips). She smiles at the viewer; clearly she is enjoying herself, but she seems also to be wondering which course of action to take. The warning figure of Temperance in the window is apparent; more so in this painting, where the image is clearer (it appears, significantly, rather soiled in "A Glass of Wine"), inicating that, perhaps, this young woman will make a wiser choice.

Answer: Girl With a Pearl Earring

The use of a turban as the young woman's headpiece in this painting is typical of the period, during which much of Europe was at war with Turkey (paradoxically, but not surprisingly, this led to a fascination with Turkish dress and customs). This painting, along with the similar, but less well-known "Head of a Girl", painted the following year (1666), are unique among Vermeer's ouevre in that there are no distractions between the subject and the viewer in the way of background or accoutrements. One's attention is drawn exclusively to the girl's face, and to the large pearl which is her only adornement.

Her enigmatic expression (her lips are slightly parted, and she seems about to speak) recalls such classic female images as da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", Michelangelo's "Delphic Sybil", and Botticelli's "Venus".