The Allegory of Painting
Artist: Johannes Vermeer
Year Composed: 1666
Artistic Movement: Golden Age
Nationality: Netherlands
Floor Found in Château: Second Floor
Year Composed: 1666
Artistic Movement: Golden Age
Nationality: Netherlands
Floor Found in Château: Second Floor
About the Artwork
Also known as The Art of Painting, Vermeer's The Allegory of Painting shows an artist within a home or studio painting a young lady in a blue dress holding a book and a musical instrument. Vermeer frames the painting, allowing the viewer to appear as if they are inside the house behind the artist, watching the scene unfold. The map behind the girl is of the Low Countries of the Netherlands, giving a historical sense as well as the impression of art and artifact collecting to the culture of the Netherlands around the 1660s. The checkerboard floor pattern shows point perspective and depth within the painting, drawing the viewer's eyes back from the drapery on the left, to the artist and his canvas in the midground, to the young woman and the map in the background.
About the Artist
Dutch master Johannes Vermeer was born in Delft within the Dutch Republic, known for his cultural and everyday scenes of the Dutch society. Similar to the art of Jacob van Ruisdael, Vermeer expressed a sense of almost-hyper realism with his objects, scenes, and figures. Religion, poetry, music, and science are all allusions that can be found within his scenes, which range from noble society to scenes of everyday life. These paintings can include The Milkmaid (1658), Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665), and The Allegory of Painting (1666-1668).
About the Movement
The Allegory of Painting was composed in the Dutch Golden Age of art. The Dutch Golden Age that spanned the 17th Century (or during the 1600s) in the Netherlands. During this time, the Dutch economy and culture was flourishing due to their rise in maritime trading, banking system, and rise of the middle class. The aesthetics of the Golden Age followed the Baroque Age of art, however the content of most works revolved around genre, everyday scenes of Dutch society. Some of the most famous Dutch Golden Age artists included Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and Jan van Eyck.
Location of Original Work of Art: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria
Also known as The Art of Painting, Vermeer's The Allegory of Painting shows an artist within a home or studio painting a young lady in a blue dress holding a book and a musical instrument. Vermeer frames the painting, allowing the viewer to appear as if they are inside the house behind the artist, watching the scene unfold. The map behind the girl is of the Low Countries of the Netherlands, giving a historical sense as well as the impression of art and artifact collecting to the culture of the Netherlands around the 1660s. The checkerboard floor pattern shows point perspective and depth within the painting, drawing the viewer's eyes back from the drapery on the left, to the artist and his canvas in the midground, to the young woman and the map in the background.
About the Artist
Dutch master Johannes Vermeer was born in Delft within the Dutch Republic, known for his cultural and everyday scenes of the Dutch society. Similar to the art of Jacob van Ruisdael, Vermeer expressed a sense of almost-hyper realism with his objects, scenes, and figures. Religion, poetry, music, and science are all allusions that can be found within his scenes, which range from noble society to scenes of everyday life. These paintings can include The Milkmaid (1658), Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665), and The Allegory of Painting (1666-1668).
About the Movement
The Allegory of Painting was composed in the Dutch Golden Age of art. The Dutch Golden Age that spanned the 17th Century (or during the 1600s) in the Netherlands. During this time, the Dutch economy and culture was flourishing due to their rise in maritime trading, banking system, and rise of the middle class. The aesthetics of the Golden Age followed the Baroque Age of art, however the content of most works revolved around genre, everyday scenes of Dutch society. Some of the most famous Dutch Golden Age artists included Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and Jan van Eyck.
Location of Original Work of Art: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria