A Lady Writing a Letter (also known…

A Lady Writing a Letter (also known as A Lady Writing; Dutch: Schrijvend meisje) is an oil painting attributed to Vermeer.

It is believed to have been completed around 1665.

The Lady is seen to be writing a letter and has been interrupted, so gently turns her head to see what is happening.

She wears twelve pearls (ten on the necklace and two earrings).

Most of Vermeer’s paintings are set in his house, which he had inherited.

Many of the objects seen in the painting, such as the woman's coat, the cloth on the table, and the string of pearls, appear in other Vermeer works.

This has led to speculation that he or his family members owned the objects, and even that the subjects of the paintings are his relatives.

It has often been suggested that in his paintings, Vermeer sought to grant to his models that which he could now endow his wife and family: calm and affluence.