A young woman seated at a virginal (A Lady Seated at a Virginal) 1672

Johannes Vermeer’s “A Lady Seated at a Virginal” (1672) portrays a young woman in a blue dress playing a musical instrument called a virginal. The scene is set in a domestic interior, with a cello and a painting visible in the background. Vermeer’s meticulous attention to detail, as seen in the intricate folds of the woman's dress and the precise rendering of the musical instruments, is characteristic of his style. This painting exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age's interest in depicting everyday life with an emphasis on realism and detail. The painting, now part of the National Gallery collection in London, is a testament to Vermeer's mastery of light, color, and composition.