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. The painting features a mysterious girl with a turban and a pearl earring. 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 girl with the pearl earring plot summary slideshare. 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.
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. 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 book contra costa county. Van ruiven, the guy who pays vermeer to paint, makes vermeer paint a picture of griet because he likes her.
Girl with a pearl earring 2003 official trailer scarlett johansson movie a young peasant maid working in the house of painter johannes vermeer becomes his. Very little is known about vermeerhe left no writings, not even any drawings, just 35 paintings. Girl with a pearl earring is a quiet movie, shaken from time to time by ripples of emotional turbulence far beneath the surface. In midcareer, the renowned 17th century baroque artist johannes vermeer painted girl with a pearl earring, which has been called the dutch mona lisa. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing girl with a pearl earring near you. Girl with a pearl earring a novel by tracy chevalier. Complete summary of tracy chevaliers girl with a pearl earring. 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. Set in 17th century delft, holland, the novel was inspired by delft school painter johannes vermeers painting girl with a pearl earring. Chevalier gets to the point, then packs it up and gets the heck out. 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. Also, griet deals with the attentions of pieter, the family butcher. Vermeer decides to have griet work as his assistant and clean his studio. 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.
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. Tracy chevalier on the filming of girl with a pearl earring. When asked what book most influenced her life as a writer, here is her response. Perhaps youve heard of the famous piece, girl with a pearl earring, by the artist johannes vermeer. In tracy chevaliers girl with a pearl earring, the subject of johannes vermeers most famous painting is brought to life. Girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. Griets family is destitute, and now she must work as a maid in the vermeer household, cleaning up the famous painters workstation. A girl with pearl earring is the fiction behind the 178uthcentury painting by johannes vermeer.
Hallway at of the uffizzi gallery in florence, home to many renaissance masterpieces. Does intertextuality help young readers create meaning from the novel. Goodreads members who liked girl with a pearl earring also liked. The novel is narrated in the first person by a sixteenyearold girl named griet, who lives in the dutch city of delft. The movie superbly captures the shadows and lights of vermeers delft. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model, and the painting. This 39page guide for girl with a pearl earrings by tracy chevalier. Smart news keeping you current scientists study girl with a pearl earring in hopes of finding how vermeer painted his masterpiece the enigmatic. 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. The girl with the pearl earring is griet, the vermeers housemaid, hired in particular to clean vermeer s studio without disturbing its order. Johannsons face is as complex and haunting as the portrait of the anonymous girl she portrays. Scientists study girl with a pearl earring in hopes of.
As a catholic, he demonstrates a reverent appreciation for the inherent beauty of human bodies and objects when bathed in light. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier, paperback. Girl with a pearl earring, tracy chevalier girl with a pearl earring is a 1999 historical novel written by tracy chevalier. No one knows who the girl is, or in fact who any of the people in his paintings are. Thus, the plot of both webbers film and chevaliers novel is all about chevaliers own interpretation of the famous mysterious painting. Find books like girl with a pearl earring from the worlds largest community of readers. Ending spoiler for girl with a pearl earring 2003, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. When griet, the novels quietly perceptive heroine, is hired as a servant, turmoil follows. She uses an honest and sincere sryle of writing and this lends an air of realism and authenticity to the story. How did tracy chevalier make this historical city come. Sixteenyearold griet has to leave her family home in delft in 1664 after her father is blinded in an accident. 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.
This results in the famous picture, girl with a pearl earring. The story opens in the year 1664 when griet is abruptly informed that she will be starting work as a maid in the home of the dutch painter vermeer and his wife catharina. Tracy chevaliers 1999 novel girl with pearl earring represents the authors speculation regarding the identity of the model for dutch artist johannes vermeers. The film version of girl with a pearl earring was released 2003 with scarlett johansson in the role of griet and colin firth playing vermeer. Thenovel chosen was the girl with the pearl earring since it. Girl with a pearl earring is a historical drama that takes a fascinating look at art culture. The novel was adapted into a 2003 film of the same name and a 2008 play. The grand master of portraiture, johannes vermeer, was a pivotal figure of the dutch golden age.
Other cast members include tom wilkinson, cillian murphy, and judy parfitt. 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. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The gorgeously filmed girl with a pearl earring is a commentary on artistic imperatives, the creative process, and the way we look at things. Girl with a pearl earring 1666 summary and analysis. Tracy chevaliers masterpiece is about a masterpiece. Her calm and perceptive manner not only helps her in her household duties, but also attracts the painters attention. Girl with a pearl earring centers on vermeers prosperous delft household during the 1660s. Based on a novel, the film follows a young peasant maid who goes to work for an artisan and ends up. 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. 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. The novel opens with vermeer and his disheveled wife, catharina, visiting griets family to have a look at the girl they hope to hire. The girl with the pearl earring is griet, the vermeers housemaid, hired in particular to clean vermeers studio without disturbing its order. 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.
This masterful film attempts to recreate the mysterious girls life. Girl with a pearl earring is a thoroughly engaging novel that follows the lifechanging experiences of quiet griet over the two years she. 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. Griet is a teenager in a poor family, so to get money, she goes to work with the. 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.
It is about things not said, opportunities not taken, potentials not realized, lips unkissed. Girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier was an intriguing fictitious book based on the life of the famous painter johannes vermeer. Its also the rare book where the film version is equal. The project has been d esigned to get our stud ents to read. In this wonderfullyacted period piece, vermeers famous painting which become the subject of a book is now a film. Synopsis when her father goes blind, griet scarlett johansson must go to work as a maid for painter johannes vermeer colin firth. Chevalier presents a fictional account of vermeer, the model and the painting. Girl with a pearl earring is the rare book that is just the right length. 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 the story tracy chevalier. 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. If you havent read it, its about a servant girl who captures the imagination of johannes vermeer and inspires him to create what is probably his most famous work.
First, the 16yearold narrator becomes increasingly intimate with her master. The question and answer section for girl with a pearl earring is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. 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 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. 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. Girl with a pearl earring depicts the freshfaced beauty of a young woman, simply but strikingly adorned in a turban and luminous pearl.
Tracy chevalier is the new york times bestselling author of seven previous novels, including girl with a pearl earring, which has been translated into thirtynine languages and made into an oscarnominated film. If you encounter one, you dont necessarily have to seek out the other. 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. All of these elements are guessed at by the filmmakers as they regard a painting made in about 1665 by johannes vermeer. Download this books into available format 2019 update. Set in 17thcentury delft, holland, the novel was inspired by local painter johannes vermeers girl with a pearl earring. Girl with a pearl earring summary and study guide supersummary.
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