Complete Vermeer Catalogue: 1653-1675

ABOUT THE
ESSENTIAL VERMEER CATALOGUE

AUTHENTICITY: There are thirty-four paintings which modern scholars overwhelmingly agree should be attributed to Johannes Vermeer of Delft.

Three works are included in this catalogue which have not received unanimous acceptance: Saint Praxedis, Young Lady Seated at the Virginals and Girl with a Flute. However, all three have been accepted by at least one authoritative Vermeer expert.

The inclusion of these three pictures does not represent approval or disapproval but, rather, the belief that their inclusion promotes and benefits research and open discussion in merit.

TITLES: Over the years, scholars and museums have given a number of titles to each of Vermeer's paintings. For the sake of uniformity, the titles used in this catalogue are those found in Arthur K. Wheelock's catalogue in Vermeer and the Art of Painting (pp. 169 -186).

DATING: Since very few of Vermeer's paintings were dated by his own hand, the dates proposed in this catalogue are a distillation of those estimated by two contemporary Vermeer scholars: Walter Liedtke and Arthur Wheelock. To resolve discrepancies among them, a range of their dates for each painting has been indicated.

VERMEER TRAVELING YOU TRAVEL...BUT SO DOES VERMEER !

If you are planning a trip specifically to view one or more works by Vermeer, remember that the paintings are sometimes not displayed in their permanent collections owing to temporary exhibitions or lengthy restorations .

Before planning your trip please consult the catalogue indext (left) to see if the paintings of interest are currently on display where you expect them to be.  

1. Carefully consult the EV Complete Vermeer Catalogue on this page.

2. Vermeer travelers will find it particularly frustrating that although the movement of paintings will be planned many months in advance, the galleries will often not reveal any information until days before or even after the movement has taken place. Therefore, always contact the museum beforehand to be sure the painting(s) you wish to see will be on display on the specific days when you plan to view the paintings!

3. Remember, special exhibitions with one or more works by Vermeer may be major cultural events especially if the take place in large cities. In this case, crowds may be expected to make viewing and ticketing particularly problematic. Details of upcoming special events and exhibitions related to Vermeer's art can be consulted by clicking here.

4. If you need help planning the details of your travels, please consult the Vermeer Travel Guide to get all the information you will need about each city that you will be visiting.