Artist and Period

The painting is attributed to Johannes Vermeer, who was active in Delft during the 17th century. It is believed to have been completed during his mature phase, in the mid-to-late 1660s.

Composition and Description

The painting depicts a young woman sitting at a table, engaged in writing a letter. She is dressed in an elegant lemon-yellow morning jacket trimmed with ermine, and wears a necklace with ten pearls and two large pearl earrings. The woman has turned her head to look directly at the viewer, while still holding the quill in her right hand. The scene is characterized by a limited number of compositional elements, with a focus on the woman's figure and the sparse objects on the table. A shaft of daylight illuminates the scene, highlighting the woman's face and the table.

Symbolism and Background

On the back wall of the room, there is a painting that covers two-thirds of the width of the composition. This painting, likely by Cornelis van der Meulen, depicts a large string instrument, possibly a double bass, and is a vanitas painting. Vanitas paintings were meant to evoke the meaninglessness of worldly aspirations and the transient nature of human endeavors, often by contrasting symbols of death and decay with luxurious objects.

Style and Technique

Vermeer's mastery of light is evident in this painting, as it features a characteristic use of light coming from the left side. The work is notable for its use of lead-tin-yellow pigment and its intimate interior scene, a style often seen in Vermeer’s other works. The painting also showcases Vermeer’s ability to transform everyday activities into compelling and captivating scenes.

Provenance

The painting was originally made for Vermeer’s patron, Pieter van Ruijven. It passed through several owners, including his wife and daughter, before being auctioned in Amsterdam in 1696. It remained in the hands of several Dutch owners until it was purchased by the Belgian politician François de Robiano in 1827. Later, it was acquired by the American banker John Pierpont Morgan in 1907 and eventually donated to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. by Harry Waldron Havemeyer and Horace Havemeyer in 1962.

Exhibitions and Significance

A Lady Writing is one of only about 35 known works by Vermeer and is highly regarded for its beauty and the artist's skillful use of light. The painting has been loaned to other museums, such as the Norton Simon Museum and the Chrysler Museum of Art, for special exhibitions, providing rare opportunities for audiences to see Vermeer’s work.

Speculation on the Subject

There is speculation about the identity of the young woman, with some suggesting she might be Vermeer’s wife, Catharina Bolnes, due to the appearance of the yellow jacket in other Vermeer works. However, there is no definitive evidence to confirm this.