St. Veronica holding Christ's image on a sweat towel.

A [painting of] Saint Veronica, 'Een van Veronica' in the inner kitchen, room C.

This image was traditionally found in Roman Catholic, and not in Protestant interiors.

Shown here is a print of St. Veronica, 1605. Large engraving by I. Matham (sculps.) after Abraham Bloemaert (fec.); Rijksmuseum Print room inv.nr. OB:27065.

During the Passion of Christ, Veronica was one of the holy women who accompanied Christ to Calvary, where he was crucified. According to tradition, the imprint of his face was left on the towel offered to Christ. See:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15362a.htm

Note : Photo Copyright Rijksmuseum Foundation. The Rijksmuseum has graciously assisted in this project Digital Home of Johannes Vermeer. The author was given permission to make a selection in the vast photo archive and this material has been made available by the Rijksmuseum.

The Veronica painting was part of the Vermeer-inventory as listed by the clerk working for Delft notary public J. van Veen. He made this list on February 29, 1676, in the Thins/Vermeer home located on Oude Langendijk on the corner of Molenpoort. The painter Johannes Vermeer had died there at the end of December 1675. His widow Catherina and their eleven children still lived there with her mother Maria Thins.

The transcription of the 1676 inventory, now in the Delft archives, is based upon its first full publication by A.J.J.M. van Peer, "Drie collecties..." in Oud Holland 1957, pp. 98-103.

This page forms part of a large encyclopedic site on Vermeer and Delft. Research by Drs. Kees Kaldenbach (email). A full presentation is on view at johannesvermeer.info.

Launched December, 2002; Last update March 2, 2017.

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