THE LACEMAKER
by Jan Vermeer
1632-1675
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Johanna (Jan) Vermeer (vur MAYR) was born in the Netherlands in the city of Delft. His father was an art dealer, and through the early contacts with artists Jan became interested in painting. The majority of his work was portraits which he painted for people, and he only painted about forty pictures during his lifetime.
He usually only included one or two people in a picture. He depicted people doing everyday things, and most of the settings were indoors. Women were his favorite subjects. He frequently had a window in his paintings. In our featured work "The Lacemaker" you can see how her handwork is probably illuminated by the sun streaming in through a window.(See examples of handmade lace.)
His painting "Officer and Laughing Girl" includes a map on the wall. During that time maps were very expensive, and to own such a map indicated wealth and education.
Vermeer spent his whole life in the city of Delft. One of his most famous paintings is "View of Delft". (If you click on the small picture of the painting, you can see an enlarged view.)
He married Catherina Bolnes and they had fifteen children. Four of them did not survive past childhood, but eleven of them grew up. The family lived with Vermeer's mother-in-law Maria Thins for some time. It would be very expensive providing for such a large family. Early on there was enough money, but later when the government flooded their land to protect the country, their farm was ruined. Vermeer himself was devastated, lost his health, and died in a very short time. He left Catherina a widow with ten children still at home. It was hard for her to provide for them.
Vermeer's paintings were not appreciated during his lifetime, and it was not until 200 years later that people realized the importance of his work.
Worksheet and Activities
Print this webpage
Online Crossword Puzzle
Vermeer Crossword Puzzle
Picture of The Lacemaker to print and color.
Work a Jigsaw Puzzle
Biography of Vermeer
Essential Vermeer
many links to information about the artist
About Johannes Vermeer Art
Other works by Vermeer
Works of Vermeer
art reproductions Isabel Art Gallery
Web Gallery of Art
"The Love Letter"
(You can enlarge the picture by clicking on it.)
Art History
online interactive art lesson - elementary
Vermeer's Lady at the Virginals
online book by Benedict Nicolson
Vermeer Biography and Prints
(Spanish version)
Fandex Field Guide: Painters
By Workman Publishing
Fandex brings the world of Western art to your fingertips with a field guide of painters, their legacies, and the often extreme lives they led. A chronology from Giotto, the first modern painter, to Frank Stella, whose black paintings proclaimed "what you see is what you see." Here is Michelangelo, who resented having to paint the Sistene Chapel because it took him away from sculpture. Botticelli and Vermeer, whose work languised in obscurity until the nineteenth century. Mary Cassatt, the only American to be included with the Impressionists. Illustrating each entry is a portrait or self-portrait of the artist, plus significant paintings and details.
Famous Artists in this Series
Index to Famous Paintings
Art Appreciation
Lessons for Kids
