Interactive Vermeer Chronology

Chronologies are essential tools in art history because they allow us to trace an artist’s development, observe stylistic change, and understand the sequence in which ideas and techniques evolved. In the case of Vermeer, establishing such a sequence is particularly challenging, since only two of his 35(?) paintings are dated. As a result, all proposed chronologies are to some degree speculative. Nevertheless, most scholars have reached a rough consensus regarding the order of his works, even though they rarely explain in detail the reasoning behind their placements.

The following feature allows users—starting from the Essential Vermeer default chronology—to create their own sequence of Vermeer’s paintings and compare it with those proposed by trusted Vermeer specialists. By engaging directly with the evidence and relationships between paintings, users can better grasp how chronology helps reveal the artist’s development and deepen their understanding of his art.

Click here to see what you can do.