Vermeer of Delft, one of the sublime Dutch artists of the seventeenth century, was locally respected but his reputation did not spread beyond his native Delft. In 1866, some two hundred years after Vermeer's death, at the age of only 42, the French writer Théophile Thoré published two series of articles which belatedly brought the artist to the world's attention, and rescued him from obscurity. In this illuminating study, Christopher Wright proposes a deeper interpretation of his early life and work finding that, before producing his now renowned paintings, Vermeer copied, and even altered, the Dutch and Italian Masters to suit local tastes. This book is a major contribution to the understanding and appreciation of Vermeer as it illustrates, often with details, all his known work. Particular emphasis is given to the major masterpieces such as his View of Delft and the Head of a Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has become one of the old master icons of modern times.