VERMEER, Johannes
(b. 1632, Delft, d. 1675, Delft)

Lady Seated at a Virginal (detail)

c. 1673
Oil on canvas
National Gallery, London

It is curious to observe that while inanimate objects - the clavecin, the bass viol in the foreground to the left, and the decorations of the musical instrument - are extremely detailed, the curtain to the left is stiff, and the lady making music is devoid of expression, depersonalized, and faultily drawn (see, e.g., her arms).