Girl with a pearl earring a novel by tracy chevalier. Plot sixteenyearold griet has to leave her family home in delft in 1664 after her father is blinded in an accident. Its about two girls whose families have adjacent plots at the cemetery, and the apprentice gravedigger they meet there. Girl with a pearl earring tracks the coming of age of a teenage girl, griet, given as a servant to the family of famous painter, vermeer. Mar 30, 2018 girl with a pearl earring is the rare book that is just the right length. It is a historical novel based on the classic and enchanting painting by johannes vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on girl with a pearl.
If you encounter one, you dont necessarily have to seek out the other. Thus, the plot of both webbers film and chevaliers novel is all about chevaliers own interpretation of the famous mysterious painting. Even so, girl with a pearl earring only became one of vermeers more famous pieces around the turn of the 21st century, with the 1995 blockbuster exhibition at the national gallery of art in washington, d. On the eve of its cinema release, tracy chevalier describes how she felt as she saw her bestselling novel girl with a pearl earring being transferred to the screen. Girl with a pearl earring is a thoroughly engaging novel that follows the lifechanging experiences of quiet griet over the two years she.
The pressure of her previous success, coupled with a first draft that wasnt working out, made chevalier want to abandon the effort altogether. Girl with a pearl earring became very popular in both furope and it has also been filmed with scarlett johansson and colin firth as the main characters griet and vermeer. Dec 26, 2003 girl with a pearl earring is a quiet movie, shaken from time to time by ripples of emotional turbulence far beneath the surface. The girl with the pearl earring plot summary slideshare. Her calm and perceptive manner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts the painters attention.
How did tracy chevalier make this historical city come. A girl with pearl earring is the fiction behind the 178uthcentury painting by johannes vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring tells a fictional tale about how the title painting by 17th century dutch painter vermeer might have come to be. Griet, played by scarlett johansson, is a maid in the house of painter johannes vermeer, played by british actor colin firth. Girl with a pearl earring summary and study guide supersummary. I purchased it from the sunday times contemporary collection section in waterstones. In tracy chevaliers girl with a pearl earring, the subject of johannes vermeer s most famous painting is brought to life.
Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier was an intriguing fictitious book based on the life of the famous painter johannes vermeer. Mar 05, 2018 smart news keeping you current scientists study girl with a pearl earring in hopes of finding how vermeer painted his masterpiece the enigmatic work was last examinedand restoredin 1994. Vermeers wealthy patron and sole means of support, van ruijven, commissions him to paint griet with the intent that he will have her for himself before it is finished. Set in 17th century delft, holland, the novel was inspired by delft school painter johannes vermeers painting girl with a pearl earring. Books similar to girl with a pearl earring girl with a pearl earring. Jun 28, 2014 this essay is a formal analysis of the girl with a pearl earring.
Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier goodreads. When her father goes blind, griet scarlett johansson must go to work as a maid for painter johannes vermeer colin firth. Girl with a pearl earring 1666 summary and analysis gradesaver. Johannsons face is as complex and haunting as the portrait of the anonymous girl she portrays. After reading girl with a pearl earring the reader will understand just how important children are to the work as a whole for their actions drive the plot and more then half of the book s characters are children. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model, and the painting. Outwardly, the film is a story about the painter and a household maid who becomes the subject of the painting. As a tilepainter, her father is a member of the artists guild, so employment is found for her as a maid in painter johannes vermeers household. Scarlett johansson stars as griet, a young 17thcentury servant in the household of the dutch painter johannes vermeer played by colin firth at the time he painted girl with a pearl earring 1665 in the city of delft in holland. With precisely 35 canvases to his credit, the dutch painter johannes vermeer represents one of the great enigmas of 17thcentury art.
Very little is known about vermeerhe left no writings, not even any drawings, just 35 paintings. In tracy chevaliers girl with a pearl earring, the subject of johannes vermeers most famous painting is brought to life. What made the experience of listening to girl with a pearl earring the most enjoyable. The screenplay was adapted by screenwriter olivia hetreed, based on the 1999 novel of the same name by tracy chevalier.
The plot takes place in the netherlands in the 17th century. The chromatic harmony of the yellow of clios book and the blue of her wrap seem to have been inverted in dress and headdress of the girl with a pearl earring. Goodreads members who liked girl with a pearl earring also liked. Griet is a teenager in a poor family, so to get money, she goes to work with the famous dutch painter, johannes vermeer in delft. The girl with a pearl earring is the story of griet, a sixteenyear old girl who is hired by the famous painter, vermeer, to clean his studio. This film, adapted from a work of fiction by author tracy chevalier, tells a story about the events surrounding the creation of the painting girl with a pearl earring by 17th century dutch master johannes vermeer. Tracy chevaliers 1999 novel girl with pearl earring represents the authors speculation regarding the identity of the model for dutch artist johannes vermeers. Johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring is the most famous painting in the mauritshuis and is probably vermeers most celebrated work. The movie superbly captures the shadows and lights of vermeers delft. Girl with a pearl earring is a 2003 drama film directed by peter webber. The novel revolving around the painting vermeer created of the girl with a pearl earring, the entire plot builds up to the modeling and painting of griet, the maidservant become an artists canvas subject. She uses an honest and sincere sryle of writing and this lends an air of realism and authenticity to the story.
Scientists study girl with a pearl earring in hopes of. All of these elements are guessed at by the filmmakers as they regard a painting made in about 1665 by johannes vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring audiobook by tracy chevalier. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing girl with a pearl earring near you. Clearly, one of the central themes of this excellent novel is the way in which characters are. The girl with a pearl earring study guide contains a biography of tracy chevalier, 100 quiz questions, a glossary, major themes, a list of characters, and a full summary and analysis. Girl with a pearl earring ajones1994 girl with a pearl earring tracy chevalier genre the story is told in the first person narrative voice by grier who is the main protagonist of the plot.
A little while ago, i read the book girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier. The production of girl with a pearl earring began in 1999, when screenwriter olivia hetreed gained access to tracy chevaliers novel girl with a pearl earring shortly before its publication in august. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Chevalier gets to the point, then packs it up and gets the heck out. The project has been d esigned to get our stud ents to read. This is the subject of chevaliers novel, girl with a pearl earring. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story of griet, a 16yearold dutch girl who becomes a maid in the house of the painter johannes vermeer. Girl with a pearl earring is a historical drama that takes a fascinating look at art culture. In his debut as a feature film director, peter webber has created an erotic masterpiece. Girl with a pearl earring, tracy chevalier girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. Other cast members include tom wilkinson, cillian murphy, and judy parfitt. The gorgeously filmed girl with a pearl earring is a commentary on artistic imperatives, the creative process, and the way we look at things. Find books like girl with a pearl earring from the worlds largest community of readers. Griets family is destitute, and now she must work as a maid in the vermeer household, cleaning up the famous painters workstation.
She works hard to support her family, but is eventually forced to leave the vermeer household by johannes vermeer s wife, catharina. The novel both recognizes the paintings historic and artistic intensity and monopolizes on that intensity to create a fascinating story of a young girl in a small city during a unique period of time. As a catholic, he demonstrates a reverent appreciation for the inherent beauty of human bodies and objects when bathed in light. Though different in upbringing, education and social standing, they have a similar way. Girl with a pearl earring tells the story behind the advent of this famous painting, all the while depicting life in 17th century delft, a small dutch city with a burgeoning art community. Tracy chevalier wrote the incredibly lush, detailed novel, girl with a pearl earring and after a time, hollywood took note of the beautiful manuscript and set about filming it, attempting to create the same sensation as chevalier, but falling a tad short, as most hollywood endeavors tend to do. It is about things not said, opportunities not taken, potentials not realized, lips unkissed.
The novel had not yet become a bestseller, but several groups were beginning to show interest. Its also the rare book where the film version is equal. Girl with a pearl earring summary the novel is narrated in the first person by a sixteenyearold girl named griet, who lives in the dutch city of delft. Girl with a pearl earring the story tracy chevalier. Thenovel chosen was the girl with the pearl earring since it. A comparison of the theme of constraint between tracy chevaliers novel, the girl with a pearl earring, and its film adaptation by peter webber. The painting shows a young woman regarding us over. In midcareer, the renowned 17th century baroque artist johannes vermeer painted girl with a pearl earring, which has been called the dutch mona lisa. Girl with a pearl earring book contra costa county. Based on a novel, the film follows a young peasant maid who goes to work for an artisan and ends up. This masterful film attempts to recreate the mysterious girls life. The scarf which falls from the blue knotted turban is very similar to the one which hangs from the stilllife in the vienna canvas.
Girl with a pearl earring book bellingham public library. Perhaps youve heard of the famous piece, girl with a pearl earring, by the artist johannes vermeer. Sixteenyearold griet has to leave her family home in delft in 1664 after her father is blinded in an accident. Jun 09, 2012 the girl with the pearl earring plot summary 1.
The novel opens with vermeer and his disheveled wife, catharina, visiting griets family to have a look at the girl they hope to hire. Ending spoiler for girl with a pearl earring 2003, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. The novel is narrated in the first person by a sixteenyearold girl named griet, who lives in the dutch city of delft. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier, paperback. There is also a gradual sexual tension between griet and vermeer which adds an interesting dimension to the story. Girl with a pearl earring was not chevaliers first exploration of the past. While cleaning the house, griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the painters jealous wife, catharina essie davis. Set in 17thcentury delft, holland, the novel was inspired by local painter johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring. Griet is portrayed as intelligent, beautiful, and modest. Download this books into available format 2019 update. As a result, she finds parallels between herself and a troubled ancestor a woman. Girl with a pearl earring tracy chevalier, 2000 penguin group usa 240 pp. Thenovel chosen was the girl with the pearl earring since it coversm any areas of learning.
Girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. This 39page guide for girl with a pearl earrings by tracy chevalier. Griet is presented as the girl depicted in vermeers painting, girl with a pearl earring. The painting features a mysterious girl with a turban and a pearl earring. Girl in hyacinth blue, chevaliers first novel succeeds on its own merits. This study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of girl with a pearl earring. Tracy chevalier on the filming of girl with a pearl earring.
Plot summary for girl with a pearl earring 2003, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. No one knows who the girl is, or in fact who any of the people in his paintings are. Smart news keeping you current scientists study girl with a pearl earring in hopes of finding how vermeer painted his masterpiece the enigmatic. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model and the painting. This exquisite film is based on a bestselling novel by tracy chevalier about the possible events behind the painting of one of vermeers most beguiling works, girl with a pearl earring. I hadnt known about him before i took a grammar course where the professor used tracy chevaliers book, girl with a pearl earring, to teach the course. I particularly loved the slowpaced plot full of wonderful descriptions of delft, of vermeers home and family, and of his paintings.