The Dissus Sale of 1696

"The earliest mention of a painting by Vermeer concerns a youthful work (perhaps) along the lines of  Christ in the House of Martha and Mary. A  June 22, 1657 inventory of the Amsterdam art dealer Johannes de Renialme mentioned "A Grave visitation by van der Meer."¹

"Remialme had registered in the guild of Delft in 1644; he had probably become acquainted with Reynier Janz. and his son Johannes through Notary Willem de Langue, with whom he was in contact. A number of other Delft artists, including Bramer, Anthony Palamedes, and Hendrick van Vliet were represented in the inventory of his possessions. The "Visit to the Tomb," by which some think the title meant "The Visit of the Three Holy Woman," was appraised at twenty guilders. This was a fairly substantial price - though far from spectacular - for a young master who was more or less unknown in Amsterdam."²  It remains unclear whether the words "Grave Visitation" describe a biblical, New Testament theme showing the visit of the three Maries to the tomb of Christ on Easter Sunday or refer to a more contemporary scene depicting the tomb of William of Orange in Delft’s New Church. The tomb a was a major attraction and   the subject of many paintings and drawings.