Woman with a Lute  1663

by Johannes Vermeer

A young woman wearing an ermine-trimmed jacket and a large pearl earring looks eagerly out the window while tuning a lute. The viola da gamba on the floor and songbooks on the table anticipate company. The figure is set within counterpoised rectangles, but Vermeer’s subtle light and shadows draw a veil over the calculated design. The picture is abraded, especially in the f...
Size: 
20 1/4 x 18 in. (51.4 x 45.7 cm)
Medium: 
Oil on canvas
Credit: 
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art