The Dissus Sale of 1696

No. 2. "A maid pouring out milk, extremely well done, by ditto" 175-0

The Milkmaid
Johannes Vermeer

The description is unanimously believed to refer to the Milkmaid now in the Rijksmuseum. The painting was paid an exceptionally high price (175 guilders) in respects to other Vermeer's of similar dimensions sold in the same auction. It was also purchased by the same buyer of Woman Holding a Balance, (catalogue no.1) Isaac Rooleeuw. The picture was paid almost the same price, 200 guilders, as the View of Delft which is more than six times larger. Unfortunately Rooleeuw was able to savor his two masterpieces briefly since both paintings were sold by foreclosure after his bankruptcy five years after the Dissius auction had taken place.