Jan Vermeer

1632-1675

Jan Vermeer was the son of an inn-keeper and art dealer.  Very little is known about his personal life.  It is known that he married, and that he and his wife had 15 children, four of whom did not survive to maturity. Vermeer painted only, on average, about two paintings per year.  He only produced about 35 paintings during his lifetime.  Virtually nothing is known about his art training, although he certainly received formal training.  He was a member of an artists' guild, whose membership required a six-year apprenticeship to a recognized artist.  His work strongly suggests that he was heavily influenced by the paintings of Rembrandt and Caravaggio.  Although he sold paintings for very high prices, when he died, he was heavily in debt.