The painting Girl with a Flute. although long attributed to Johannes Vermeer, is now a subject of significant debate regarding its authorship.

Attribution

The attribution of Girl with a Flute to Vermeer has been questioned since 1942. Despite initial acceptance as a Vermeer work when it entered the National Gallery of Art in 1942, subsequent studies have cast doubt on this attribution. Scholars and conservators have noted that the painting lacks the delicacy and expertise characteristic of Vermeer's work. The brushwork is described as "heavy-handed" and "blocky," and the composition shows several weaknesses, such as the static and frontal pose of the figure, awkwardly articulated arms and hands, and a lack of form or volume in the background elements.

Style and Composition

The painting is a tronie, a study of a facial expression or a stock character in costume, a popular genre in Dutch Golden Age painting. It depicts a woman wearing a boat-shaped hat and a fur-trimmed jacket, seated by a patterned tapestry and holding a flute. However, the execution of the painting is considered inferior to Vermeer's known works, such as "Girl with a Red Hat," which is also housed at the National Gallery of Art.

Materials and Techniques

The painting is executed on a single-plank oak panel with a double ground, consistent with seventeenth-century Dutch painting techniques. However, the artist's use of materials and techniques, while similar to Vermeer's, does not match his level of skill. This has led to the suggestion that the painter might have been a pupil, apprentice, or associate of Vermeer rather than the master himself.

Ownership and History

The painting has had several owners throughout its history. It may have been first owned by the family of Vermeer's patron, Pieter van Ruijven, and was possibly sold at the 1696 Dissius auction in Amsterdam. It later belonged to various Dutch and Belgian families before being purchased by Joseph Widener and eventually entering the collection of the National Gallery of Art in 1942.

In summary, while Girl with a Flute was once attributed to Johannes Vermeer, current scholarly consensus suggests that it was likely painted by someone familiar with Vermeer's methods but lacking his expertise.