The Music Lesson

This work is one of Vermeer's greatest depictions of Dutch culture during the 17th century. A young lady is having a music lesson playing the virginal, a keyboard instrument. Virginals were commonly played by young ladies and they produced a delicate, fine sound which was appropriate for women of this time. The music composed for the virginal always told of moral values and enlightenment but also spoke of romance, love and happy adventures within the virtues of religious order. The Music Lesson is from a wealthy upper-class scene, as it was common practice for women from affluent families to partake in such activities. Vermeer's idealism is evident in this canvas, as he paints yet another depiction based on women's role in society and what he sees as righteous and beautiful. The identities of the sitters are unknown but the gentleman here also appears in The Geographer. It is debatable whether the gentleman is the teacher to the student. This same figure appears again in another of Vermeer's works, The Astronomer.