Hidden self-portrait of Vermeer discovered in Met painting
A hidden figure in Jan Vermeer's 'A Maid Asleep' (1656-1657) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has been revealed through advanced X-ray fluorescence technology. The restoration team led by Dorothy Mahon identified the concealed image as an artist holding a brush before an easel, suggesting it may be a self-portrait of Vermeer. The discovery was announced during a symposium at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, coinciding with the largest-ever Vermeer retrospective, featuring 28 works and running until June 4, 2023. The hidden figure challenges the traditional interpretation of the painting's subject: the sleeping woman may not be a maid but a model exhausted from long posing sessions. Art historian analysis links the composition to Nicolaes Maes's 'The Naughty Drummer' (1655), as Maes lived in Dordrecht, 30 km from Vermeer's Delft, making it plausible Vermeer knew his work. Further research is ongoing to confirm the hypothesis. The painting's title may need revision if the maid identification is disproven.
Key facts
- Hidden figure in Vermeer's 'A Maid Asleep' revealed by X-ray fluorescence
- Figure appears to be an artist with brush and easel, possibly a self-portrait
- Discovery led by Dorothy Mahon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Announced at a symposium during the Rijksmuseum's Vermeer retrospective
- Retrospective features 28 works, runs until June 4, 2023
- Sleeping woman may be a tired model, not a maid
- Possible link to Nicolaes Maes's 'The Naughty Drummer' (1655)
- Maes lived in Dordrecht, 30 km from Delft
- Further research needed to confirm self-portrait hypothesis
Entities
Artists
- Jan Vermeer
- Dorothy Mahon
- Nicolaes Maes
Institutions
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Rijksmuseum
Locations
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Dordrecht
- Delft