Reviewd by Erina Hsu, MyShelf.com
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An artistic masterpiece by one of the greatest 17th Century Dutch painters is brought vividly to life in Chevalier’s spellbinding novel. Set in 1664 Delft, the story follows sixteen-year-old Griet as she begins servitude at the household of painter Johannes Vermeer. The artist soon asks the young maid to assist him in his studio. Griet is quickly entranced by the fascinating sights, smells, and colors that exist only in Vermeer’s studio until even the act of mixing paints takes on extraordinary meaning. Before long, Griet develops a unique bond with her employer, though the mistress of the house is threatened by Griet’s presence. The situation intensifies when a persistent patron requests a portrait of Griet, the “wide-eyed maid”. Eventually she poses for Vermeer, wearing his wife's earrings. The result is the painting known as “Girl With a Pearl Earring” and a maelstrom of scandal and conflict that ultimately alters Griet’s life forever.

Chevalier has superbly mingled history with fiction in this absorbing tale of 17th Century Dutch life. Though little is known about Vermeer, Chevalier’s unrestrained imagination portrays the elusive artist with captivating insight into the persona of an artistic genius. Brilliantly fluid prose and powerful imagery are combined with hypnotic results, making this novel shine like the luminous pearl earring made famous in one of Vermeer’s most celebrated pieces. Most captivating of all is experiencing Vermeer’s world through young Griet, as she embarks on a journey of discovery of herself and the beauty of art. Like the piercing eyes that stare out at an observer with unrelenting directness from Vermeer’s painting itself, GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING is elegant, mesmerizing, and haunting.

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