Mistři světového malířství: Jan Vermeer van Delft

A lecture by art historian Martin Pavlíček.

A moderately successful provincial genre painter, respected in Delft and The Hague. He painted at a slow pace, producing about three paintings a year. He made his living primarily as an art dealer. In 1653, he married the Catholic Catharina; from then on, he was a secret Catholic. They had 15 children. He likely trained under Rembrandt’s pupil Carl Fabritius. His early work was influenced by the Utrecht Caravaggists. He gradually developed a mature style of Dutch interiors featuring girls and gentlemen, rivaling Gerard Dou and Pieter de Hooch. Since the 20th century, he has become a major star, admired for his photographic depiction of melancholic reality.