About 24 years ago I was able to purchase a reproduction print of picture
entitled "The Lacemaker" by VerMeer, original owned by the National Gallery,
Washington DC. I loved the picture and went several times to the Gallery when
visiting Washington to try to see it..But noone seemed to know anything about
it. The painting was very much related to the "famous Lacemaker" Same
yellow dress, lace collar and cuffs,. same type of stand and the blue
embroidery pillow with red and yellow threads spilling out. In this the case
the young woman is looking out at the camera, but her hands appear to be in
the
act of making lace. Actually I think she must have been left handed because
that is the hand that appears to setting a pin.
When the wonderful VerMeer collection was shown at Gallery in1995 I, of
course, made a special effort to see the exhibit, especially the "famous " and
delightful Lacemaker.. And reading in the very scholarly catalog that was
published at the time of the exhibition I dixcovered what had happened to the
other "Lacemaker" She had been discoverd to be a FAKE! Now attributed to the
notorious van Meergan (1937), is described as "now in storage",. My copy
still
in on my "wall of fame" (lacemakers!) and I love her. If the Gallery wants
to
get rid of the oriiginal, I would be happy to give her a good home.
Incidentally the scholarly description of the wonderful original
Lacemaker,
is mostly technical regarding the construction of the design of painting but
quite respectful of the craft depicted. "-the crisp accents of light
illuminate the precision and clarity of vision required by this demanding
craft".
Trenna Ruffner
Michigan
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