Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid

Johannes Vermeer1670–1671
Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid by Johannes Vermeer. Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

About this painting

A seated mistress writes intently while her maid stands by the window, arms folded, gazing out as she waits. A crumpled letter and broken stick of sealing wax on the floor in the foreground hint at the emotional context. The biblical history painting on the back wall depicts the Finding of Moses.
Date
1670–1671
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
71.1 × 58.4 cm

Current location

National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland