The newly restored masterpiece by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer is on loan from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. It will be on view for the public from Thanksgiving . Apparently, Vermeer was so fond of "The Art of Painting" that he kept it until his death. The painting has not been seen in American since 1950.

Painted around 1665-70 it is a work of the artist's maturity and intrigues viewers with its complex organization of space and light. Those expecting to see the ususal small cabinet painting, as Vermeer favoured small formats, will be in for a surprise as The Art of Painting measures -- 3 feet by 4 feet (0.9 meters by 1.2 meters). However the scale of the domestic setting, spatial treatment and attention to detail mean that it retains the same impact of intimacy upon the viewer. In this it relates pefectly well to the much smaller "Soldier and Smiling Girl" in the Frick Museum, New York. 

The iconography of the painting is quite interesting. More than a simple portrayal of an artist painting a model in his studio it is actually an allegorical painting.  Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. curator of  northern baroque painting in Washington explains the subject :

"At first sight, the subject appears to be simply a demure young woman with a wreath on her head, holding a book that's a little too big for her and  getting her picture painted by an elegantly dressed artist. He has started painting the wreath. But the  book she holds identifies her as Clio, the muse of
history. The wreath may refer to the fame and honor of painting. She also holds a kind of trumpet, which probably symbolizes glory. An elegant curtain is drawn to impress the viewer with the scene's  importance."

Report by Rachel  Le Goff