Beatrice Cenci
attributed to Guido Reni
1599 64.5 x 49 cm.
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Roma
While the thematic and compositional
origins of some of Vermeer's works have
proven easy to trace, other of his works
pose more problems. And it is hardly out
of the question that such an
uncomplicated motif as
the Girl with a Pearl Earring could have
been devised independently.
Nonetheless, Vermeer scholars have
proposed a wide variety of Dutch and
foreign models including, traditionally,
the Beatrice Cenci by the Italian painter
Guido Reni.* While such a connection may
appear far fetched, Vermeer certainly
knew the Beatrice Cenci story which had
captured Europe's collective imagination
and he could have seen one of the many
copies of Reni's original or engravings
which circulated throughout Europe.
http://www.essentialvermeer.com/catalog
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Jan Vermeer - Mädchen mit dem Perlenohrring 1665
