The above stamps are all part of the souvenir-sheet shown below.

• The Netherlands 1996.  Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid.    
  A similar stamp was issued by United Nations (New York) 1992 in the Human Rights-sets.

• The Netherlands 1996.  The Love Letter.  
  Similar stamps were issued by Fujeira 1967 and Burundi 1974.

• The Netherlands 1996.  Lady Reading a Letter by the Window.
  A similar stamp was issued by Burundi (fragment) 1969, Rwanda 1975, and Aitutaki 1979.  

• The Netherlands 1996. Souvenir sheet and First Day Cover. 

Forgotten after his death and not rediscovered until the late 19th century, his reputation steadily increased thereafter. Although he is today considered one of the greatest Dutch painters, I was really amazed when looking through the world issues of Vermeer-stamps, realizing that his native Holland has only issued three of his paintings on stamps. They were issued at the occasion of the Johannes Vermeer Exhibition in Mauritshuis Museum (The Hague, Holland) 4th March - 2nd June 1996, see the souvenir sheet and the FDC above and the three individual stamps.  

Please click on the souvenir sheet to see a larger version, and on the FDC to see a large version with full description of the painting "View of Delft".  

• Tanzania 1996.  Woman with a Water Jug. A similar painting was issued on a stamp by Fujeira 1967.

• Sierra Leone 1996. A Girl Asleep.  

• Sierra Leone 1996. A Woman with a Lute.

• Tanzania 1996.  Portrait of a Young Lady. It is disputed whether the model is Vermeer's eldest daughter, Maria, also called Maertge.  She was 11 years of age when he did this painting. The girl on the painting does look older than 11. 

• France 1982.  The Lace Maker. The same painting was issued on a stamp by Ajman 1968, Yemen 1968, Burundi 1969,  Fujeira 1971, and Guyana 1993.   

• Guyana 1993. The Astronomer. 

• Aden-Kathiri 1967.  Girl with a Pearl Earring (also known as "Woman with Turban"). The model is Griet, a young kitchen maid and washer woman in Vermeer's household.  Belongs to Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague, The Netherlands.  

• Rwanda 1975. The Milkmaid. The model is supposed to be Tanneke, a servant in Vermeer's household. The same panting has been issued on stamps by Yemen 1968, Manama 1972, and Oman 1972. 

• Sharjah 1968.  The Guitar Player. The same painting was issued on a stamp by Aden-Kathiri 1967. 

Only 35 of Vermeer's canvases have survived, of which 18 have been reproduced on stamps by 21 countries. Three of his paintings live at the Mauritshuis in The Hague ("Diana & Her Companions", "View of Delft", and "Girl with a Pearl Earring").

The museum was built 1633-1644 as a residence for Johan Maurits von Nassau, which was later transformed into present day's museum.  The meter stamp shown here, dated 20th July 1966, "In the Light of Vermeer", was produced in connection with an art exhibition in 1966.  Vermeer Meter Stamp "In The Light of Vermeer". Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague.  The other 32 paintings are distributed among 14 other cities, including 8 in New York, 4 in Amsterdam, 4 in London, and 3 in Washington DC.

Their small number is the result of Vermeer's deliberate, methodical work habits, his relatively short life, and the disappearance of many of his paintings during the period of obscurity following his death in Delft on December 15, 1675. His life and work habits are thoroughly described in the novel by Tracy Chevalier "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (1999). 

Sources and links:

• Drewes Veenstra (1996): "Johannes Vermeer, klein in omvang, groot in schoonheid".  [A Small Production of Great Beauty]. ISBN 90-75536-06-2. 

• Tracy Chevalier:  "Girl with a Pearl Earring", 1999 (Danish Translation ISBN 87-90799-32-1). 

• Vermeer Clickable Map 

Other Baroque painters and artists on this site:

Bellotto, Bernardo Canaletto Frans Hals Leyster, Judith Metsu, Gabriel Mignard, Nicolas

Mignard, Pierre Rembrandt Rubens  Velazquez Le Vau, Louis (Architecture - Versailles) Maderno, Carlo (Architecture - St. Peter's, Rome)

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