Jan
Vermeer 1632-1675 of Delft was one of the three greatest painters of the Dutch School. In the Dutch rooms with their
high ceilings and shuttered windows, illumination could be controlled and studied at leisure. Under such conditions, Vermeer produces the full visual effect of daylight. Often his costumes introduce a colour harmony of blue, yellow, and grey, as in The Young Woman with a String of Pearls, and The Woman Weighing Gold.
Vermeer’s interiors make one aware of each foot of depth, which in terms of clarity and convincing truthfulness, have never been surpassed. In The Girl with a Red Hat, there is a lingering suggestion of still life, with the immobile features, the smooth surface, and the carefully spotted high lights give this portrait the permanence of inanimate objects. His painting of A Little Street in Delft is an exact visual reproduction of brick walls, showing the influence of the atmosphere, but nevertheless there is a feeling of solidity.
The most spectacular of all of Vermeer’s interiors is the Artist in His Studio. A model is posed in the cool light of the window in the far end of the room. The sense of depth is extraordinary. Textures suggest the feel and weight of the materials, and the colours are greyed, emphasizing the colour harmony.
As with all
paintings from the Dutch School, Vermeer’s paintings were painstakingly realistic. Local colour was used, though the range was small, adhering to subdued greens, muddy browns, and extensive use of shadow.
Certain social changes aided in the development of Dutch paintings. In the sixteenth century, extensive housing construction began, the quality of life improved and wealthy people began to settle in the houses of merchant men. Many became patron to art and this led to the increased demand for artists, derived from a popular interest in high clarity realistic paintings, which decorated rooms and provided entertainment. Vermeer’s particular skill in the area of interior paintings meant that his work was always in demand and became the standard by which many other artists were judged at the time.