| Artist: Jan Vermeer | Profile: Jan Vermeer, also called Jan van der Meer van Delft, was born in Delft, Holland, and baptized on October 31, 1632. Only 35 of Vermeer's canvases have survived, and not one appears to have been sold. The small number could have been the result of his methodical work habits, his short life, and the disappearance of many of his paintings during the period of obscurity following his death in Delft on December 15, 1675. He mostly painted sunlit interiors with one or two figures shown reading, writing, or involving musical instruments. | | |