Obviously
this is a copy of Vermeer's "A Lady Writing".
This is my wife's favorite (of my work). Vermeer
generally is my favorite artist. Copying other
artists is a traditional way to learn - I did this
one pretty early on, and relied on a projected slide
image to draw the picture which I then painted from a
reproduction poster. I worked hard on smooth painting
and shadowing in the face, but it does not compare
with the magnificent work in the National Gallery. I
copied this one to practice as well as have it for
myself since I again, I could not buy the original.