The allegory of faith

This is one of Vermeer's last works. It shows a woman in an intense religious moment. The work is full of symbolism. Vermeer probably used the book Iconoligia by Italian author Cesare Ripa. The woman symbolizes faith. The white on her dress represents purity, the blue for the celestial sky. The hand on his chest indicates that faith lives in the heart. She literally has the world under her feet.

She appears to be looking at the crystal sphere hanging from the ceiling. There is no certainty about the meaning of the sphere. Some say that it may represent the human mind, capable of reflecting and containing the infinite. In the foreground is a snake crushed by a large stone. The scene symbolizes Christ destroying Satan. Next to her is an apple, the symbol of original sin. The woman is sitting on a platform. Next to it is a table with a crucifix, a cup and a book (bible or missal). The painting in the background is a crucifixion by Jacob Jordaens. The room may very well be a hidden church. In the second half of the 17th century, Catholics in the Northern Netherlands were increasingly persecuted. They had to take refuge in hidden churches to celebrate mass.

As a renowned Dutch artist during the Golden Age era, Johannes Vermeer made a name for himself with his famous works, such as View of Delft and Little Street. Perhaps, this was all due to the fact that he was born in Delft, in the Netherlands. Therefore, his inspirations mainly came from where he grew up, which had a great impact on his life and career as a painter. His other paintings include The Concert, Women with a Jug of Water, and Girl Asleep at the Table. These were his popular masterpieces as his style evolved after his experience as part of the Delft Painters' Guild in his hometown.