Great Art Season 1 Episode 5

Girl with a Pearl Earring and Other Treasures from The Mauritshuis

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer is one of the most enduring paintings in the history of art.Even today, a recent world tour of the painting provoked huge queues lining up for the briefest glimpse of its majestic beauty – in Japan 1.2 million people came to see the exhibition.Yet the painting itself is surrounded by mystery.This film seeks to investigate the many unanswered questions associated with this mysterious artwork.Who was this girl? Why and how was it painted? Why is it so revered?