Above, is the trailer for the movie version of girl with a pearl earring, starring scarlett johnson as griet click on this for a timeline concerning events from the 1600s 1700s. Tracy chevalier, quote from girl with a pearl earring it seemed to me that the baker had an honest response to the painting. I really like chevalier as an author, however this wasnt one of my favourite stories. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier is about griet, who, at the age of sixteen, becomes a maid at the vermeers to provide financial support to her family. Please explain the novel girl with a pearl earring by.
Maria would be, if she wasnt a good protestant girl and he a frivolous catholic. Griet is asked to leave the house and discontinue her service as a maid for them. Maria thins catharinas mother s u p p o r t s a r t a s b u s i n e s s, h e l p s f i n a n c i a l l y introductiontracy. Griet is a sixteenyearold girl who is forced to work as a maid due to her familys poor financial situation. Sep 27, 2019 the great painter, johannes vermeer, passes away toward the end of the novel. Griet is a protestant girl from holland who goes to work as a maid in vermeers home after her father has an accident that leaves him blind. The end of the book, ten years later and not long after vermeers death, is also hard to believe. Historians still have no biographical information about this model, so chevalier created a story about a beautiful 16yearold servant in the vermeer household. Books like girl with a pearl earring include the heretics daughter, girl in hyacinth blue, pope joan, the other boleyn girl, year of wonders. You can click on the different years to get an indepth explanation of events during that time, verses the general explanation of the page. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story of sixteenyearold griet, whose life is transformed by her brief encounter with genius. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier goodreads. Research finds secrets of the girl with a pearl earring.
All the paintings shown in the film are replicas, except for this one, which is shown at the end of the film in a slow zoom from the blob of white that creates the gleam on the pearl earring. Chevalier imagines the vermeer paintings young subject as 16yearold griet the daughter of a. Girl with a pearl earring topics for discussion tracy chevalier this study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of girl with a pearl earring. Whats so special about vermeers girl with a pearl earring. The novel centers on griet, the protestant daughter of a delft tile painter who lost his sight in a kiln accident. With the arrival of griet, his paintings were progressing faster and she, thus the creation of the girl with a pearl earring, inspired his art mind. The novel was adapted into a 2003 film of the same name and a. On the left hand side of the page is a column with numerous years listed. It is hard not to like this good and obedient protagonist, for she struggles with universal yearnings such as love and an escape from poverty. This film, adapted from a work of fiction by author tracy chevalier, tells a story about the events surrounding the creation of the painting girl with a pearl earring by 17th century dutch master johannes vermeer. In 1999, author tracy chevalier published an historical novel based on the painting. All of these elements are guessed at by the filmmakers as they regard a painting made in about 1665 by johannes vermeer.
Im confused about the ending of the girl with a pearl. New research reveals more of the girl with a pearl earring. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story behind the advent of this famous painting, all the while depicting life in 17th century delft, a small dutch city with a burgeoning art community. History and fiction merge seamlessly in this luminous novel about artistic vision and sensual awakening. Hollywood made the novel into a film, girl with a pearl earring, in 2003. The girl with a pearl earring, 1665 by johannes vermeer. Vermeers paintings make people look outside the box rather than just looking at the painting blandly.
Girl with a pearl earring tracks the coming of age of a teenage girl, griet, given as a servant to the family of famous painter, vermeer. It is about things not said, opportunities not taken, potentials not realized, lips unkissed. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier book analysis. Girl with a pearl earring book chicago public library. The appointment of the quiet, perceptive heroine of the novel, the servant griet, gradually throws the household into turmoil as vermeer and griet become increasingly intimate, an increasingly tense situation that culminates in her working for vermeer as his assistant, and ultimately sitting for him. They explain that before his death, vermeer made a request, and catharina is now going to honor it. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story of sixteenyearold griet. Girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. Jul 01, 2014 as vermeers girl with a pearl earring returns home to the hague, alastair sooke delves into the story of the mysterious painting and its enigmatic creator. Even so, girl with a pearl earring became one of vermeers more famous pieces only around the turn of the 21st century, with the 1995 blockbuster exhibition at the national gallery of art in washington, d. A young peasant maid working in the house of painter johannes vermeer becomes his talented assistant and the model for one of his most famous. Tanneke in the film is a much more pleasant cool big sis to griet whilst in the book she was often much more moody and by the end she had come to resent griet and contributed to her woes. Is the girl with a pearl earring based on a true story.
Please explain the novel girl with a pearl earring by tracy. His death becomes the catalyst for an important decision. The mauritshuis art museum, where the painting is housed, announced on tuesday that the examination, the first on this dutch masterpiece since 1994, had revealed the presence of tiny. Girl with a pearl earring is a 2003 drama film directed by peter webber. Hum 228 reflection paper unit 1 girl with the pearl earring there could be many different interpretations of the ending scene when the pearl earrings are returned to griet. Girl with a pearl earring includes examples of the following tropes. Vermeers family was higher on the social class, but money was running low, for, his paintings were taking a while to be created. In 1999, american author tracy chevalier published girl with a pearl earring, a novel directly inspired by one of vermeers most famous works of the same name. When vermeers wife sees the painting of griet she flies into a rage.
But in the end, it is the mystery that keeps us coming back to it again an. When her father goes blind, griet scarlett johansson must go to work as a maid for painter johannes vermeer colin firth. Seventeenyearold griet must work to support her family and becomes a maid in the house of johannes vermeer, where she gradually attrac. Girl with a pearl earring summary the novel is narrated in the first person by a sixteenyearold girl named griet, who lives in the dutch city of. While reading this book you feel griets excitement, fear, and love. At the time girl with a pearl earring was created, dutch girls did not generally wear turbans. The portrait was painted on regular canvas using oil paints. The painting shows a young woman regarding us over. Looking at the painting after having read the novel.
Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier was released twenty years ago, where has the time gone. The best the girl with the pearl earring book home. The novel opens with vermeer and his disheveled wife, catharina, visiting griets family to have a look at the girl they hope to hire. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model and the painting. Dec 28, 2003 on the eve of its cinema release, tracy chevalier describes how she felt as she saw her bestselling novel girl with a pearl earring being transferred to the screen.
This leads art historians to believe that vermeer intended to produce a tronie rather than a portrait. Girl with a pearl earring is an engaging fictionalization. Girl with a pearl earring fanfiction archive fanfiction. Set in the 1660s, the girl is a maid sent by her parents to work for an artist and his family when her father has to give up his job. The project has been d esigned to get our stud ents to read. It follows the story of the girl in the painting and how she ends up modeling for vermeer. When catharina is accusing griet in the book, tanneke agrees with her, whilst in the film shes surprised when.
The girl with the pearl earring was created by johannes vermeer in 1665 through 1667 in mauritchius, the hague. The girl herself is a mystery who has inspired both a novel and a movie speculating on her true story. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A maid becomes a model for the 17th century dutch painter, vermeer. In the novel griet was vermeers inspiration that he has been looking for. Nominee alexander korda award for best british film. Girl with a pearl earring is about a maid, who becomes a model, who gets her picture painted and attracts the notice of a few men. Griet narrates the story, which is told in the point of view of a young uneducated girl. Girl with the pearl earring is one of the best films ever made about art made richer with its speculative interior drama. Scientific investigation reveals new elements in vermeers. Vermeer is the husband of catharina and, eventually, father of 11 kids. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier 9780007232161. Apr 06, 2014 after reading girl with a pearl earring the reader will understand just how important children are to the work as a whole for their actions drive the plot and more then half of the book s characters are children.
Ending spoiler for girl with a pearl earring 2003, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. Girl with a pearl earring, tracy chevalier girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. The girl with the pearl earring griets mother is pragmatic and understands the value of stability and a secure income. Griet returns home and she soon receives a package. The girl with a pearl earring is the story of griet, a sixteenyear old girl who is hired by the famous painter, vermeer, to clean his studio. The woman, an artisans daughter with a strong power of observation, describes his manner of work, his household and life of the day, including the rigid class system and religious bigotry. It has inspired further artworks, notably tracy chevaliers 1999 novel the girl with the pearl earring which gave rise to an oscarnominated film starring scarlett johansson and colin firth. Griet is shocked when catharina gives her the pearl earrings.
The novel based off of this painting creates fictional terms under which the painting was painted. Sep 30, 2003 girl with a pearl earring is a thoroughly engaging novel that follows the lifechanging experiences of quiet griet over the two years she serves the delft painter, johannes vermeer. Apr 28, 2020 scientific investigation of vermeers girl with a pearl earring, one of the most famous paintings in the world, has revealed elements that make her more personal even if her identity remains a mystery. This is a wonderful novel, mysterious, steeped in atmosphere and yet firmly rooted in the drudgery and denial of a servants life. Inside are her exmistresses vermeers wife two pearl earrings. Compare and contrast the mona lisa and the girl with the.
The elegant prose evokes contemplation, the pace is slow and cumulative the drama emotional rather than visceral. While cleaning the house, griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the painters jealous wife, catharina essie davis. Get an answer for please explain the novel girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier, especially the bit when she is piercing her ear. Van ruijven tried too hard when he looked at paintings, with his honeyed words and studied expressions. How much is the painting girl with a pearl earring worth. Set in 17th century delft, holland, the novel was inspired by delft school painter johannes vermeers painting girl with a pearl earring.
The screenplay was adapted by screenwriter olivia hetreed from the 1999 novel of the same name by tracy chevalier. Set in 17thcentury delft, holland, the novel was inspired by local painter johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring. Johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring is one of his most famous paintings, but very little is actually known about it. She ends up working in the vermeer household and soon becomes the personal assistant of johannes vermeer, helping him in his art studio. Maria greets griet and sends her in to see catharina and van leeuwenhoek, who is the executor of vermeers will. Set in 17th century delft, holland, chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the girl in the painting and the artwork itself. Scarlett johansson stars as griet, a young 17thcentury servant in the household of the dutch painter johannes vermeer played by colin firth at the time. Thenovel chosen was the girl with the pearl earring since it coversm any areas of learning. Gold, silver and bronze hoop earrings were common in the minoan human being 2000 1600 bce and also instances can be seen on frescoes on the aegean island of santorini, greece. This book brings you back to the1660s delft into to the life of griet, a 16 year old, protestant, dutch girl. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier excerpt. The painting was created during the dutch realism movement, during this time the spanning of the seventeenth century was in full swing during the later time of the eighty. Jun 09, 2012 the girl with the pearl earring plot summary 1.
I found the film slightly more enjoyable however the ending is more satisfying in the book. Girl with the pearl earring alexandre desplat youtube. With scarlett johansson, colin firth, tom wilkinson, judy parfitt. As a result, she finds parallels between herself and a troubled ancestor a woman. If vermeer would have seen the error of his ways before the closing credits. Events move towards a climax as griet finally moves into his painting, posing for girl with a pearl earring and thus taking her place in history. Dec 26, 2003 girl with a pearl earring is a quiet movie, shaken from time to time by ripples of emotional turbulence far beneath the surface. The woman with the water jug is just as graceful as the girl with the pearl earrings as tracy tried to portray it in the novel. The girl with a pearl earring study guide contains a biography of tracy chevalier, 100 quiz questions, a glossary, major themes, a list of characters, and a full summary and analysis. His wife, catharina, has been instructed through the. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model, and the painting.
Through the eyes of sixteenyearold griet, the world of 1660s holland comes dazzlingly alive in this richly imagined portrait of the young woman who inspired one of vermeers mos. Best the girl with the pearl earring book from girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. Girl with a pearl earring 2003 end credits youtube. There is little know about the allusive artist, though it is clear the girl with the pearl earring is his masterpiece, often called the mona lisa of the north. Fittingly, chevaliers writing style adopts a painterly approach. In girl with a pearl earring, she recreates the 17thcentury world of johannes vermeer. She is a young girl with fair skin and blonde hair. The look on griets face is a look of shock, some anger, and recollection. I read this book way back then, but was only too pleased to revisit it. Dec 21, 2020 girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier is an amazing book that brings the story behind the vermeer painting to life.
When tracy chevalier penned girl with a pearl earring, a novel that eventually. Girl with a pearl earring was not chevaliers first exploration of the past. Girl with a pearl earring won the title of the netherlands most beautiful painting in 2006 by popular vote. Girl with a pearl earring book hennepin county library. A tronie was a study of a head designed to represent a particular figure type and the girl in this painting represents an exotic, oriental female. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. The question and answer section for girl with a pearl earring is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. But the trouble with their relationship runs deeper than just religion. A young peasant maid working in the house of painter johannes vermeer becomes his talented assistant and the model for one of his most famous works.
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