Johannes Vermeer Oil Painting Reproductions

The Quiet World of Johannes Vermeer Paintings

When you look at the work of Johannes Vermeer, you are looking at a world of quiet moments. Unlike other artists of the Dutch Baroque period, Vermeer worked slowly, producing about three paintings a year on order. ¹ He is believed to have produced fewer than 50 paintings in total, with only 34 surviving today. ¹ Practically all of Vermeer's surviving works are domestic interiors with one or two figures lit by a window on the left. ¹

This small, deliberate output makes each piece feel incredibly intimate. If you want to bring this stillness into your home, our hand-painted oil reproductions capture the exact mood of the originals. Every canvas is painted brushstroke by brushstroke in oil on museum-grade linen. You can choose from seven sizes listed for each work, or you can order a custom size to match the exact proportions of the original painting.

From Delft to the Mauritshuis

Vermeer spent his entire life in the city of Delft. When his father died in October 1652, Vermeer took over the family's art business. ¹ He became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke on December 29, 1653. ¹ A few months earlier, in April 1653, Vermeer married Catharina Bolnes, a Catholic woman. ¹ His quiet life in Delft was supported by Pieter van Ruijven and his wife, Maria de Knuijt, who served as Vermeer's patrons for most of his career. ¹

Though he was highly respected in his hometown, Vermeer was largely forgotten after his death on December 15, 1675, at the age of 43. ¹ He was buried in the Protestant Old Church in Delft. ¹ In the 19th century, Vermeer was rediscovered by Gustav Friedrich Waagen and Théophile Thoré-Bürger. ¹ Today, his cityscapes and domestic scenes are celebrated worldwide. His cityscape View of Delft is located at the Mauritshuis in The Hague. ¹ Another famous cityscape, The Little Street, is located at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. ¹

Choosing a Vermeer for Your Wall

Deciding which Johannes Vermeer painting to hang in your home is a matter of choosing the kind of light you want in your room. Vermeer was unique among 17th-century artists for his early and lavish use of the expensive pigment ultramarine. ¹ This deep blue gives his interiors a cool, calm atmosphere.

If you love his portraits, you might start with Girl with the Red Hat, which is located in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. ¹ For a scene of quiet concentration, you might choose A Lady Writing, where Vermeer used lead-tin-yellow to catch the light on her jacket. ¹

If you prefer his bust-length studies of figures, known as "tronies," you can choose his most famous work. ² His masterpiece Girl with a Pearl Earring is housed in the Mauritshuis in The Hague. ¹ This painting is featured on our list of the world's most famous paintings of all time, alongside other legendary works.

Whether you choose a quiet domestic scene or a portrait, our hand-painted reproductions bring the soft light of Delft into your living space. Prices in this collection run from $350, by size, making it simple to find the perfect piece for your wall.

A Vermeer tends to set the tone for everything else in the room, so it is worth choosing its neighbors with care. Soft window light and a cool palette pair easily with other calm interiors and portraits. For more ideas, browse the masterpieces people know by name and look for works with the same stillness before you settle on a pairing for your wall.

Sources

1. en.wikipedia.org
2. metmuseum.org