Johannes Vermeer is a famous Dutch artist. He was born in the
city of Delft in the 1600s. Little is known about Vermeer. His
father was an art dealer. He did not sign all of his paintings. He
painted genre paintings- paintings of everyday life. He died at the
age of 43. He painted 36 paintings. This is a part of a Vermeer
painting. Historians believe that this is probably a self
portrait.
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The dark green area is The Netherlands. Sometimes people
confuse Holland and The Netherlands. Holland is a province or
region of The Netherlands. There is North Holland and South
Holland.
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Delftware
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The Netherlands is known for tulips wooden shoes hagelslag
windmills
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Some interesting facts about The Netherlands. Dutch people are
the tallest in the world, with an average height of six feet for
men and five feet, seven inches for women. Orange-colored carrots
appeared in the Netherlands in the 16th century. Before that
carrots were white, yellow, black, purple or red. Orange carrots
are said to have been bred in honor of the House of Orange, who led
the Dutch Revolt against Spain and later became the Dutch Royal
family. New York City started as a Dutch colony- New Amsterdam
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Anton von Leeuwenhoek is also from the city of Delft.
Historians believe the Leeuwenhoek may have known Vermeer.
Leeuwenhoek was a scientist and is known for the improvements he
made on the microscope. The Father of Microbiology
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Lets look at some of Vermeers paintings.
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The Lady Writing Chasing Vermeer is about a stolen painting,
The Lady Writing. Blue Balliet made up this story. This painting
has never been stolen
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But this painting was really stolen and to this date has not
been recovered. It was stolen from the Isabella Gardner Museum in
Boston. It is valued at 200 million dollars. The Concert
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This was thought to be Vermeers first painting. Diana and Her
Companions
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The Woman Seated at the Virginals For years this painting was
disputed as a Vermeer. However, through scientific tests, such a
chromatography, it is an authentic Vermeer.
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Look at the hands..
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The Lacemaker
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Cut from the same cloth or canvas.
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The Disturbing History of The Art of Painting
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Vermeer wanted to paint a painting that would remain in his
studio. He wanted this painting to be his finest, as this would be
his only portfolio. He must have been very proud of this
painting.
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Vermeer died at the age of 43. He had 11 children and he died
penniless and in debt. Katrina (Mrs. Vermeer) hid The Art of
Painting because she did want the creditors to get it. She gave it
to her mother for safe keeping. That didnt work. The creditors
found out about it, sold it, and used it to pay off the Vermeer
debt.
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During the time Vermeer was painting, there was a very popular
Dutch painter named Peter de Hooch. At the time, De Hoochs painting
could be sold for more money than a Vermeer. After Vermeer died,
the popularity of his paintings were almost nonexistent. Around the
early 1800s this painting was sold with a forged De Hoochs
signature! De Hooch
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In the mid 1800s a French art dealer had found a few of
Vermeer's painting. He thought them to be at the highest level of
art. The Frenchman knew The Art of Painting had to be forged. Word
got around and BOOM ! Vermeers paintings went way up in price and
were sought after.
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In 1939, WWII was beginning. Germany wanted power by gaining
control of neighboring countries. The leader of the Germany was
Adolph Hitler.
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Hitler thought that Germany was the best country. But it could
be a supreme country if it had a world class art museum. Hitler
started buying art at really cheap prices and subsequently looted
art.
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Hitler bought The Art of Painting and hung it in his home.
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The war was destructive and people had to evacuate their
towns.
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Museums had to find a safe shelter for the art The Louvre,
Paris
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Germany started losing the war. Hitler did not want his art
collection destroyed.
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Hitler secretly moved his art to a salt mine in Austria.
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Germany lost the war. The USA and Russia knew that Hitler had
hidden valuable art. Who was going to find it first?
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Americans found the salt mine. And returned art to rightful
owners.
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Inside the salt mine Future president, General Eisenhower
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Hitler hid his paintings in places in addition to the salt
mine. Art found in a small museum in France.
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Russia also found Hitlers stashes and looted German museums.
Russia was severely attacked by Hitlers army. Many lives were lost
and towns destroyed. Russia did not return the paintings back to
the rightful owners. They kept the paintings as compensation and
hung them in their own museums.
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Portrait of a Young Man by Raphael This painting was stolen by
Hitler. To this day, it has never been found. If you find this
painting, will you please give it back to the rightful owners? It
is worth millions.