The following is a list of paintings Attributed to Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675), a Dutch Golden Age painter. After two or three early history paintings, he concentrated almost entirely on genre works, typically interiors with one or two figures. Vermeer's paintings of the 1660s are generally more popular than his work from the 1670s: in the eyes of some, his later work is colder.Bonafoux, 124
Today, 34 paintings are firmly attributed to him, with question marks over a further three.Jonathan Janson, Essential Vermeer: complete Vermeer catalogue accessed 16 June 2010 This compares to the 74 pictures attributed to him by Théophile Thoré-Bürger in 1866. Vermeer's reputation increased greatly during the latter half of the 20th century, a period during which the number of paintings ascribed to him shrank greatly.Bonafoux, 144 This is partly because he has been one of the most widely forged artists, and many forgeries have now been identified. No drawings or preparatory paintings are known.Jon Boone, Essential Vermeer: How many Vermeer's? [sic] accessed 22 January 2010 Many Vermeer paintings are known by various names, and alternative names are noted below. Years of creation are only estimates for most of the paintings, and sources often give different, though not widely divergent, estimates. In addition to the known paintings listed below, historical documents seem to describe at least six other, lost, works.
Paintings by Johannes Vermeer + Image Title Year Size LocationChrist in the House of Martha and MaryWheelock, 481654–55 or c. 1654–56or c. 1655 or c. 1655Oil on canvas, 160 × 142 cm National Gallery of Scotland, EdinburghSaint Praxedis1655 Oil on canvas, 101.6 x 82.6 cm Kufu Company Inc., Tokyo On loan to the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo Diana and Her CompanionsWheelock, 521655–56 or c. 1653–54Oil on canvas, 98.5 × 105 cm Mauritshuis, The HagueThe ProcuressWheelock, 541656 (signed and dated)Oil on canvas, 143 × 130 cm Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden Girl Reading a Letter at an Open WindowWheelock, 58 (also known as Young Woman Reading a Letter at an Open Window) 1657 (or c. 1657–59) Oil on canvas, 83 × 64.5 cm Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden A Girl Asleep (also known as A Maid Asleep) 1657 (or 1656–57)Oil on canvas, 87.6 × 76.5 cm Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York The Little Street 1657–58 or c. 1658 or c. 1658–60 Oil on canvas, 54.3 × 44 cm Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Officer with a Laughing Girl (also known as Officer and Laughing Girl) c. 1657 Oil on canvas, 50.5 × 46 cm Frick Collection, New York The Milkmaid c. 1658 or c. 1657–58 Oil on canvas, 45.5 × 41 cm Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam The Wine Glass, also known as A Lady Drinking and a Gentleman and The Glass of Wine 1658–60 or 1658–59 Oil on canvas, 39.4 × 44.5 cm Gemäldegalerie, Berlin The Girl with the Wineglass c. 1659 Oil on canvas, 78 × 67.5 cm Herzog Anton-Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig View of DelftWheelock, 72 1659–60 Oil on canvas, 98.5 × 117.5 cm Mauritshuis, The Hague Girl Interrupted at Her Music 1660–61 (or 1658–59) Oil on canvas, 39.4 × 44.5 cm Frick Collection, New York Woman Reading a Letter 1663–64 (or 1657–59) Oil on canvas, 46.6 × 39.1 cm Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam The Music Lesson (also known as A Lady at the Virginals with a Gentleman) 1662/65 Oil on canvas, 73.3 × 64.5 cm Royal Collection, Buckingham Palace, London Woman with a Lutec. 1663–64 or 1662–63Oil on canvas, 51.4 × 45.7 cm Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkWoman with a Pearl Necklace1662–64Oil on canvas, 55 × 45 cm Gemäldegalerie, BerlinWoman with a Water Jug, also known as Young Woman with a Water Pitcher1660–62 or c. 1662Oil on canvas, 45.7 × 40.6 cm Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkWoman Holding a Balance, also known as Woman with a Balance1662–63 or c. 1663–64Oil on canvas, 42.5 × 38 cm National Gallery of Art, Washington A Lady Writing a Letter1665–66 Oil on canvas, 45 × 40 cm National Gallery of Art, WashingtonGirl with a Pearl Earring, also known as Girl in a Turban, Head of Girl in a Turban, The Young Girl with Turban, and Head of a Young Girl.c. 1665 Oil on canvas, 46.5 × 40 cm Mauritshuis, The HagueThe Concert1665–66 Oil on canvas, 72.5 × 64.7 cm Missing since its theft from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston in 1990Stolen, a documentary about the theft of The Concert, from the PBS websitePortrait of a Young Woman, also known as Study of a Young Woman1666–67 or c. 1665–67 Oil on canvas, 44.5 × 40 cm Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe Allegory of Painting, also known as The Art of Painting1666–67 or c. 1666–68Oil on canvas, 100 × 120 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaMistress and Maid, also known as Lady with her Maidservant Holding a Letter1667/68 Oil on canvas, 90.2 × 78.7 cm Frick Collection, New YorkGirl with a Red Hat (attribution to Vermeer has been questioned)NGA catalog entry1668 or c. 1665–67 Oil on panel, 22.8 × 18 cm National Gallery of Art, WashingtonThe Astronomer1668 Oil on canvas, 50.8 × 46.3 cm Louvre, ParisThe Geographer1668/69 Oil on canvas, 53 × 46.6 cm Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt am MainThe Lacemaker1669/70 Oil on canvas, 24.5 × 21 cm Louvre, ParisThe Love Letter1669/70 Oil on canvas, 44 × 38.5 cm Rijksmuseum, AmsterdamA Young Woman Seated at the Virginalsc. 1670Oil on canvas, 25.2 × 20 cm Leiden Collection, United StatesLady Writing a Letter with her Maid1670 Oil on canvas, 71.1 × 58.4 cm National Gallery of Ireland, DublinThe Allegory of Faith, also known as Allegory of the Faith1671–74 or c. 1670–72 Oil on canvas, 114.3 × 88.9 cm Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USAThe Guitar Player1672 Oil on canvas, 53 × 46.3 cm Kenwood House, London, EnglandLady Standing at a Virginal, also known as Young Woman Standing at a Virginal1673–75 or c. 1670–72 Oil on canvas, 51.7 × 45.2 cm National Gallery, LondonLady Seated at a Virginal, also known as Young Woman Seated at a Virginal1673–75 or c. 1670–72 Oil on canvas, 51.5 × 45.5 cm National Gallery, London
Disputed paintings Image Title Year Size LocationGirl with a Flute, said to be by a "friend" or imitator of Vermeer by the National Gallery, however the Rijksmuseum claims it to be authentic1665–70 Oil on panel, 20 x 17.8 cm National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Lost works Historical documents such as auction records suggest that Vermeer painted a number of other works, now presumably destroyed, lost to public view, or possibly wrongly attributed to other artists. While a list of these lost Vermeers must necessarily be tentative, it may include:
a self-portrait a painting of a man washing his hands a second street scene (the first being The Little Street) a Visit to the Tomb – possibly Biblical a mythological painting including Jupiter a relatively early painting described as a 'face by Vermeer'
Footnotes
Sources Bonafoux, Pascal. Vermeer. New York: Konecky & Konecky, 1992. Cant, Serena. Vermeer and His World 1632–1675, Quercus Publishing Plc, 2009. Wheelock, Arthur K. Vermeer: The Complete Works. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1997.