Treasures at The National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Some of the most precious paintings in the world are by Vermeer. Each work of art is exquisite on its own and, unfortunately, there are very few of them left in the world.

So it is a real treasure to have three of them at the National Gallery.

The painting here is my favorite Vermeer. Many people will say that the Art of Painting, which I saw recently in Vienna, is the finest of Vermeer’s extant paintings but this painting of a woman holding a balance is my favorite.

Vermeer was revolutionary in art because he chose to depict domestic scenes rather than producing religious paintings. I imagine that was driven by his market, which was the prosperous middle class in the Netherlands rather than church patronage as in places like Italy or the Byzantine Empire.

Nonetheless, what he does with his domestic scenes is magical. First, his brushwork is among the finest in the art world. Second, his use of light coming in through open windows to highlight sections of the painting is exquisite. And in this painting in particular he creates a quiet moment of contemplation and pondering of morals. The wealthy young woman, with pearls and other valuables spread before her, contemplates an empty balance as if weighing up riches in this world vs. riches in the world to come.

Here are the other two Vermeers in Washington.