Girl with a Pearl Earring

The identity of the model has never been established. She is almost certainly not a formal portrait subject — the painting is likely a "tronie," a character study of a type rather than a specific person. Popular theories have suggested she was Vermeer's daughter Maria (who would have been around 12 in 1665) or a patron's daughter, but none have been confirmed by historical evidence.

The painting is permanently displayed at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands, in Room 15. The Mauritshuis is a 17th-century palace on the Hofvijver lake and houses one of the world's finest collections of Dutch Golden Age paintings, including Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson and several other Vermeers.

Almost certainly not. Analysis by art historians and scientists suggests the earring is more consistent with glass than a natural pearl — it has an unusually uniform surface and lacks the layers that characterise genuine pearls. A real pearl of that size would have been extraordinarily valuable in 17th-century Holland.

The comparison refers to both paintings' mysterious, unidentified subjects and their shared quality of appearing to engage directly with the viewer. Both also have an enigmatic quality — Mona Lisa's shifting smile, and this girl's parted lips and glancing look — that creates the sense of an interrupted moment. Both are also smaller than visitors expect.

The painting is in the permanent collection of the Mauritshuis and is not for sale — it is owned by the Dutch state. It has no current market valuation. As one of only 34–36 known Vermeer paintings in existence, its value if sold would be extraordinary — comparable to, or exceeding, the most expensive works ever auctioned.