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Jan Vermeer van Delft also called Johannes Vermeer was one of the most famous Dutch painters of the Baroque period. There is no definite information about Jan Vermeer's education, but he became a member of the St. Luke's Guild as a Freimeister on December 29, 1653. To be accepted into the guild, one must first complete a six-year apprenticeship with an artist recognized by the guild.

Since he painted on average only two pictures per year, he must have had other sources of income. In 1662 and 1663, as well as in 1670 and 1671, Vermeer was dean of the St. Luke's Guild.Already during his lifetime, Jan Vermeer was able to achieve good prices for his paintings and the artist painted very few pictures for the free art market.

In addition to his artistic activities, Jan Vermeer also worked as an art expert. For example, he verified the authenticity of a collection of Venetian and Roman paintings.

In the last years of his life, Vermeer's economic situation deteriorated, so that he had to take out loans. As a result of the French-Dutch War, which broke out in 1672 and lasted until 1679, he was unable to sell any more paintings. In 1675 Vermeer became ill and died within a few days. On December 15, 1675, he was buried in the family vault in the Oude Kerk in Delft.