The Art of Painting
The artist
Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch painter admired for his glowing light and careful, detailed rooms.
What you see
An artist sits at his easel painting a young woman who poses dressed up like a muse of history.
The story
Painted around 1666, it is Vermeer's proud showpiece about how wonderful the art of painting can be.
The style
Vermeer pulled back a heavy curtain to let us peek in, and filled the room with rich light and tiny details.
Look closer
A big map of the old Netherlands hangs on the back wall, and a bright chandelier shines above the painter.
Where to see it
You can visit it at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria, where it is a treasured highlight.
Fun fact
Vermeer loved this painting so much that he kept it for himself and never sold it during his life.