Answer:
Johannes Vermeer van Delft is one of the most renowned Dutch painters of Baroque art. He lived during the so-called Dutch Golden Age, in which the United Provinces of the Netherlands experienced an extraordinary political, economic and cultural flourishing.
Vermeer's complete work is very limited; only 33 to 35 paintings are known. This could be due to the fact that he painted for patrons, by order, more than for the art market.
He painted other works, now lost, which are known by old auction records. His first works were of historical type, but he achieved fame thanks to his painting of manners, often considered a genre, which form the majority of his production. His best known paintings are View of Delft and Girl with a Pearl Earring. In life he was a painter of moderate success. He did not have a comfortable life, perhaps due to the small number of paintings he produced, and upon his death left debts to his wife and eleven children.
Practically forgotten for two centuries, Vermeer's painting was widely recognized since the mid 19th century. He is currently considered one of the greatest painters in the Netherlands. He is also particularly recognized for his expertise in the use and treatment of light.
