Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid at least a degree of intimacy between the two. The painting visits many of Vermeer's usual painterly motifs; in particular his obsession with the inside/outside axis of interior spaces, and through his description of the tiled floor as well as the verticals of the dresses, window frame and back wall painting, his interest in geometry and abstract form. Vermeer had experimented with this painterly device earlier in his career, notably in his "View of Delft", "The Lacemaker" and "The Art of Painting". "Lady Writing" was stolen on 27 April 1974, along with a Goya, two Gainsboroughs and three Rubens from
The Old Lacemaker scarlet sleeves. Over her head hangs a basket of eggs. On a dresser at the side is some crockery. " A masterly production but a little darkened by time" (Sm.). Panel, 15 1/2 inches by 13 1/2 inches. "Sale." London, 1836 (£69 : 6s.)." The 1836 sale was at Christie's lot 60, and the buyer was Colemna. In 1994 it came on the market again and the museum was able to purchase it with support from VSB Fonds Den Haag, Vereniging Rembrandt, and Vrienden van het Mauritshuis. The Old Lacemaker The Old Lacemaker (circa 1655) is an oil on canvas