Artist and Period

The painting is the work of Johannes Vermeer, a prominent artist from Delft, Netherlands, during the Dutch Golden Age

Composition and Setting

The painting depicts a young woman sitting at a window, tuning a lute. She is dressed in a yellow jacket trimmed with ermine and wears large pearl earrings. The scene is set in a domestic interior, characterized by a leaded window, a marble floor, a chair with lion-headed finials, and a hand-colored map of Europe on the wall. Songbooks are scattered on the table and floor, and a viola da gamba lies on the floor, suggesting a musical setting and possibly an anticipated or recent duet

Symbolism and Themes

The act of tuning the lute was recognized by contemporary viewers as a symbol of the virtue of temperance. The painting evokes themes of expectation, longing, and perhaps mindful restraint. The scattered songbooks and the nonchalant abandonment of the instruments could suggest either an impending or a recently completed musical encounter

Artistic Techniques

Vermeer used soft light, coming from the window on the left, to create an intimate atmosphere. This lighting technique was typical of his work, utilizing natural light to control the fall of light in his studio. The painting also showcases Vermeer’s mastery of spatial recession, with the chair and table guiding the viewer's eye into the painting

Condition and Provenance

The painting is relatively small, measuring 51.4 cm × 45.7 cm (20.2 in × 18.0 in). Over time, the darkening of objects in the foreground and abrasion of the paint surface have somewhat diminished the impression of spatial recession and atmosphere. The painting was bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York by Collis P. Huntington in 1900, although it was not fully transferred until 1925 after the death of his second wife, Arabella

Influence and Context

The painting is part of Vermeer’s 'Pearl Pictures,' a series of works featuring women adorned with pearls. It is also noted for its relationship to the work of Frans van Mieris, particularly 'Woman Playing a Theorbo-Lute,' suggesting a possible artistic rivalry and influence between the two artists

Exhibitions and Locations

The painting is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It has occasionally been loaned to other museums, such as the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California, for special exhibitions.