17th century

17th century

The Lacemaker (De Kantwerkster; La dentellière)) is a painting by the Dutch master, Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), from about 1670. It measures 24.5 x 21 cm and since 1870 has been housed in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. The painting shows a young woman diligently at work on her piece of bobbin lace.

The Laughing Cavalier (as it is popularly known) is a painting of an unknown man, by the Dutch painter Frans Hals (c. 1582-1666). It dates to 1624 and measures 83 x 67.3 cm. The sitter's doublet (type of jacket) is embroidered with red, yellow and white designs, such as arrows, caducei, cornucopias, knots and flames. 

An image by the Flemish print maker, Hieronymus Wierix (1553-1619; at the bottom of the print is the text Hieronymus Wierx fecit et excudit) shows the Virgin Mary. The print dates to 1619 or earlier. It depicts the Virgin seated while sewing, surrounded by other young women sewing and embroidering.

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam houses a number of prints of the same etching, which was made by the Leiden craftsman, Pieter de Mare (1758-1796), after a drawing by the Leiden artist, Frans van Mieris (1635-1681). The etching and prints were made between 1768 and 1784. The print measures 24.4 x 19.4 cm.

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