Pieter van Ruijven had belonged to the Van Ruijvens, who had built up a large collection of paintings by Vermeer, three by Emanuel de Witte, four by Simon de Vlieger and one by Jan Porcellis. He is depicted as a predatory lecher in Tracy Chevalier's historical novel "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (1999), although there is absolutely no evidence of this. The 2003 film of the book also follows this characterization. Pieter van Ruijven Pieter Claesz. van Ruijven (Delft, 1624 – Delft, August 7, 1674) is best known as Johannes Vermeer's patron for the better part of the artist's career. Van Ruijven was
Girl with a Pearl Earring (film) embrace and make love in a barn, where Pieter proposes marriage, but Griet unexpectedly leaves. She then returns the earrings to Catharina's mother. Later, Catharina flies into a rage upon discovering Griet used her earrings. She storms into the studio, accuses her mother of complicity, and demands Vermeer show her the commissioned portrait. Offended by the intimate nature of the painting, Catharina dismisses it as "obscene," and tearfully asks why Vermeer won't paint her. When Vermeer responds, "Because you don't understand," she tries but fails to destroy the painting. She then banishes Griet from the house forever, to which Vermeer