Johannes VermeerDutch, 1632–1675A Lady Writing a Letter
A Lady Writing
May one see it?
Yes, receiving visitors
National Gallery of Art
Room50A · West Building, Main FloorWashington, D.C., United States
On public display.
- Checked
- 4 hours ago
- In this state since
- Aug 19, 2026
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the painting
A Lady Writing a Letter (also known as A Lady Writing) is an oil on canvas painting by the 17th century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. It is believed to have been completed by artist during his mature phase, in the mid-to-late 1660s. The work is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Particulars
- Accession number
- 1962.10.1
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- National Gallery of Art: the museum's own open data · fetched 4 days ago
- Image: National Gallery of Art — Museum open access
Meanwhile, in the life of Johannes Vermeer
The whole life1653–1675
Patrons: van Ruijven and van Buyten
Pieter van Ruijven and his wife Maria de Knuijt were Vermeer's patrons for the better part of his career: van Ruijven bought much of his output, which kept Vermeer afloat financially but reduced the chances of his fame spreading beyond Delft. The baker Hendrick van Buyten held a couple of his paintings as collateral.
1653–1675 · Workplace
Delft
1663
A visit from Balthasar de Monconys
In 1663 the diplomat Balthasar de Monconys came to see Vermeer's work, but Vermeer had no paintings to show him. Monconys and the two French clergymen with him were sent to the baker Hendrick van Buyten, who held a couple of the artist's paintings as collateral.
![Scenes from the Passion of Christ: The Descent into Limbo [right panel], Andrea Vanni, 1380s](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/4205a539-eadd-4486-89a7-3cff9c1ba428/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
