New Vermeer

A hitherto unrecognized painting by Jan Vermeer of Delft (1632-1675), who is acclaimed by some discerning critics as the greatest painter of all time, has been discovered in Paris. It represents a young boy, half-length, full-face, auburn curls, scalloped collar, yellowish silver-gray jacket, brownish-red cloak. Many connoisseurs had seen the picture but had not suspected its authorship until a dealer, noting the resemblance to Vermeer's charming Young Girl in the Mauritshuis, The Hague, found various other clues, and was corroborated by the leading Vermeer critic.

The romance of Vermeer's resurrection after two centuries of neglect adds to the subtle fascination of his art. His pictures were forgotten and passed for DeHoochs, Metsus, Ter Borchs, even Rembrandts. Not until 1860 did the critics Burger and Havard put together the scattered evidences of his life and work. Even now there are but 37 authenticated Vermeers known -- eight in the United States-- and it is almost a certainty that more will be unearthed from the dust of European attics. Apart from their rarity, the qualities which give Vermeer's canvases their coveted value are their handling of light and color (his favorite tones were blue and lemon yellow), and a certain noble serenity of atmosphere that has never been surpassed. He painted chiefly genre pieces and" homely portraits of the Dutch bourgeosie, but has two known landscapes in Dutch galleries, and a Christ with Mary and Martha in the Coats collection, Glasgow. The Metropolitan has three Vermeers, including the Young Woman Opening a Casement in the Morgan collection, and the Sleeping Cook, in the Altman collection.