Girl with a Pearl Earring: A Novel

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy ChevalierInspired by a painting by Dutch artist Vermeer, GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING is a fictional account of how this famous painting came to be. Just as Johannes Vermeer painted this anonymous girl back in the 1660's, author Tracy Chevalier painted a beautiful picture of the world of 17th century Holland and the world of this young girl who eventually becomes the subject of one of his paintings.Ms Chevalier's story starts with the introduction of Griet, a young teenage girl who lives with her parents and younger sister in a very humble home in the town of Delft. She is helping chop vegetables in their kitchen when her parents receive a visit from two stately looking guests. Griet finds out soon enough that this couple is Johannes Vermeer the painter, and his lovely wife Catharina. Johannes notices how Griet is separating the vegetables by color and his observation does not go unnoticed by Griet. This first brief encounter between them is the spark that starts their new "relationship".Griet learns then that she is expected in a few days to start working for the Vermeers as their maid. Griet's father is no longer able to work due to an accident he had on the job, and now it is up to Griet to help the family out. Her older brother has already left home, and is learning to make a living at what their father used to do: Make tiles.A few days later, Griet is living with the Vermeer's and their children and servants. They live lavishly for these times, and Griet soon becomes accustomed to her new life. She returns on weekends to visit her family, but she has to stay with the Vermeers during the workweek.Griet has many duties as a maid, including doing the laundry and helping out with the children. She slowly bonds with the children, all except Cornelia, who seems to be a trouble maker and tries her best to get Griet into trouble with her parents. This becomes especially evident when, for some reason, Johannes decides to make Griet his assistant, on top of all the duties Griet has to perform as their maid. Because of Catharina's jealousies, his wife is not to know about this special role that Griet was about to play in the house. With the help of Catharina's mother, Griet finds ways to secretly help Johannes "grind" his colors and do other necessary things to help him prepare for painting, in the hopes that Catharina doesn't find out.Griet falls in love with his paintings, and with him. And soon, all she can think about is him. Since she is now his special assistant, she is privy to his private world of painting, a world that even Catharina is not allowed to trespass. Through the eyes of Griet the reader sees how Vermeer created his beautiful works of art, using a creation that was the forerunner of today's camera. A new world opens up for Griet. Because of this, Griet also knows that she is headed towards danger of losing her job.GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING in my opinion was a literary work of art. Maybe I was heavily influenced by the cover, which depicts the actual painting of this girl that Vermeer made famous back in the 17th century. Regardless of the reason, I personally enjoyed this fictional tale of the creation of one of Holland's most famous paintings of the renaissance era.

I like how the author creates the possibilities of how some of Vermeers paintings may have been created. She illustrates in your minds eye how paintings can be and are looked at from another perspective. The family life and era is described in interesting detail. A very good read that leaves you with a smile upon completion:)

I just loved this wonderful little piece of fiction. It took us right to mid sixteen hundred's Delft, Holland. Were the painters guild resides (St.Luke's) and other master painters of that time period resided i.e.; Johann Vermeer and Rembrandt were two and there were more all competing for money for their work from rich patrons.I love historical novels if they are done well. This writer takes you there to Delft and, tells the story of an ordinary girl,"Griet", who is sixteen years old and, has to grow-up quickly due to her fathers losing his place in a shop that paints tiles when he becomes blinded by a kiln accident at work he was also a member of the guild. Griet now has to go out an earn an income to help support the family as well as her brother. Griet has to learn a lot as she goes to a strange house. One filled with too many children to count. A wife,"Catharina", who is narcissistic and thinks her status is more than it is and, she is perpetually pregnant. The mother-in-law to Vermeer, "Maria Thins", who for the most part runs the career and finances of the home and of Johann Vermeer. The surly daughter "Cornelia" who is very mean, manipulative,and jealous concerning Griet the "new maid". Then Tanneke the well seasoned other maid who shows her the ropes and tells her the house gossip. Griet now lives in a home that follows a different religion then her own as she is Protestant and the Vermeer's are Catholic as Griet's mother tells her "to hold her ears during their Catholic prays!" What absolutely drew me to the book was the beautiful girl with a large pearl earring that seemed to glow for that time period. At that time I did not know a lot about Vermeer's work. I do now! The photo/portrait just really pulled me in! Every time I went past the book I was fascinated finally I got my wallet out. I have read this book twice. The second time after several years I got more out of it then the first time. I now look at that portrait and think of Griet the simple little 16 yr. old servant girl who couldn't read as stated by Catharina Vermeer. Griet had a bright, clever, mind. Which Johann Vermeer saw in her. Griet made out better then the Vermeer's in the long run. Although, she was sexually curious about "Master Vermeer" she ended up with someone that was not duty bound to have all those children as dictated by the dogma of an earlier Catholic church. Griet has a good husband, a couple of children and they work together in a business. I think she was duty bound to her heart and mind! There is a lot more to this book but, I don't want it to be spoiler alert. If you are a mystery person or action thriller this book is not for you. This book is a historical novel and the characters are more introspective.

Pedido veio em duplicidade e COBRANÇA também

Libro consigliato

one of the best books I have ever read.

Había visto la película pero siempre me queda con la duda del final, con el libro me aclaran todo, la novela es entretenida y sirve para practicar el inglés.

Romantic but convincing fiction around the famous Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer. Worth reading even if you have seen the movie with Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth. Makes one want to visit Delft and the Mauritius Huis in Den Haag (The Hague) where the painting of the title is displayed.