CHRIST IN THE HOUSE OF MARY AND MARTHA
(Christus in het huis van Martha en Maria)
c. 1654-1656
oil on canvas
63 x 53 7/8 in. (160 x 142 cm.)
National Gallery of Scotland
'Christ in the House of Mary and Martha' is thought to be the earliest known painting by Vermeer. The strongest argument for its early date is the difference in painting techniques between this work and his later ones. In no other painting does he focus so exclusively of the figures in the central core of the composition. Vermeer in his mature works was very conscious of the relationship of his figures to the environment, a concern not evident in this work."
Arthur K. Wheelock, Jr., Jan Vermeer, 1981
