Vermeer's Girl with Pearl Earring

Cindy Procious · 12-31-2003, 03:53 PM

I've been a member for a while now, but this is my first post. I've only recently started painting in oils (pastels *were* my medium of choice), but I love the handling and find myself wishing I'd started painting sooner.

This is 16" x 20" oil on gesso panel - done as a verdaccio underpainting and glaze with local color added last.

I had difficulties getting a photo without a glare since the glazing medium made for some glossy (and oh so juicy) paint.

In doing a Master copy - is there a rule about how one should sign the painting?

Critiques welcome, and Happy New Year!

Cindy Procious · 12-31-2003, 03:54 PM

Detail of face.

Cindy Procious · 12-31-2003, 03:58 PM

I just read that this painting is called the "Dutch Mona Lisa". What incredible mystery about her - those eyes - what is her story???

Steven Sweeney · 12-31-2003, 05:39 PM

Briefly, for now:

Sign copies by including an "after ________" with your signature. So, here, you'd sign your name, followed by "after Vermeer".

You would likely enjoy Tracy Chevalier's novelization, "Girl with a Pearl Earring".

Mary Pedini · 01-02-2004, 02:18 PM

Hi Cindy,
Welcome to the forum. I think the colors you used in this are very nice. Especially the colors in the skin. Good job!
Mary

Cindy Procious · 01-02-2004, 05:33 PM

Steven, thanks for the tip. I was also wondering if I should use Vermeer's unique sig or sign "after" in my own hand?

Mary, thank you for the kind words and the welcome.

Happy New Year.

John Zeissig · 01-02-2004, 07:46 PM

Hello Cindy,

Welcome to the forum! You did an outstanding job on this copy. The only thing that stands out to me on a quick inspection is that the yellow part of her turban is not as yellow in your painting as it is in your reference reproduction. It may be due to the digitization. The on screen appearance of the painting is often not faithful to the actual painting. Here the yellow of the turban in your painting appears close to the skin tone of the face.

A while ago Michele Rushworth started an exercise/challenge featuring this painting. You might find it interesting:

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...&threadid=2438

After completing the exercise I decided that the world didn't need another copy of this particular painting, so I modified (some say corrupted) mine into this:

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...&threadid=2865

There's also a link in the first thread to a similar challenge on the Wet Canvas forum. Hope you had as mich fun doing this one as I did!

cheers

John

Cindy Procious · 01-04-2004, 10:40 AM

Hi John,

Thanks for the welcome, and your generous praise. You're right - the yellow of the turban is not as yellow as it should be. It didn't even occur to me that the versions available on the net would differ so radically. And, I was using a limited palette and wasn't too sure how to get that vivid color. (Plus a little timidity here - this is my fourth oil. Not too sure of the medium yet.)

I looked at the links you sent - wow. Some great work and so many different treatments.

I like your interpretation - I don't find it a corruption a'tall. I'm working on my own version - I'll post it on the "in progress" thread.

Thanks for taking the time to give me links and a critique.

Regards,

Bob Bissett · 09-06-2004, 09:14 PM

I did this digital copy a few months ago using Painter8 after seeing the movie and reading the book. Used twenty different pix found on the internet...a wide variety of values and colors to choose from. Just guessing what it really looks like.

Was inspired to do the other one which is either the lazy man's digital painting or a retouched photo, depending on your pov.

Very interesting to see what others have done with it.