Scans show: Vermeer painted Milkmaid over

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Once upon a time there was a rack of pitchers behind the milkmaid and a fire basket in the foreground. But Vermeer was apparently not satisfied with that and painted it over himself. This is the conclusion of new research by the Rijksmuseum.

The discoveries were made with the advanced scanning techniques that were recently used in the major research and restoration process of the Night Watch.

“It gives a surprising picture of Vermeer’s artistic decisions,” says Taco Dibbits, chief director of the Rijksmuseum. “Painting over the rack with jugs and the fire basket provides more peace and quiet in The Milkmaid’s room. Nothing distracts from her concentrated activity.”

Fire basket and pitcher rack

The rack of jugs that Vermeer removed was called a jug board in the seventeenth century. It was a shelf with knobs from which several pottery pitchers were hung from their ear. The researchers know from Vermeer’s inventory that such a shelf often hung in a utility room.

Vermeer's milkmaid has been examined with the most advanced techniques, including this Macro-XRPD scanner

Vermeer’s milkmaid has been examined with the most advanced techniques, including this Macro-XRPD scanner

The removed basket had already been discovered, but thanks to the new techniques with X-ray and infrared scans, the researchers now know that it was a fire basket made of willow wicker. This too was a permanent part of the household effects of young families. Glowing coals were often placed in the basket to keep newborn babies warm and to dry diapers. Vermeer later replaced the basket with the stove, the Delft blue tiles and the floor.

The infrared scan on which the jugs and the basket can be seen.

The infrared scan on which the jugs and the basket can be seen.

Details came later

Thanks to the discoveries made with the new research techniques, a clear underdrawing with black paint can be seen for the first time. The researchers also saw a thick stripe of black paint under the milkmaid’s left arm.

It was always thought that Vermeer worked slowly and carefully with his small oeuvre, but that turns out not to be the case. This sketch makes it clear that Vermeer first set up his performance quickly in light and dark before he worked out the details.

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