Vermeer's Map hidden location research image

Cartography is often described as a combination of science and art and maps have always been regarded as the fusion of scientific and artistic efforts. The links of cartography and art are witnessed, among others, in maps depicted in paintings of great masters, such as the Dutch painters of the 17 century, where both cartography and art were flourishing. A representative example is Johannes Vermeer; in his painting “Officer and laughing girl” (~1660) an officer and a young girl are placed in an interior, sitting at a table in front of a window. On the wall behind the girl a large map is hanging, occupying a large part of the painting. The map on the painting depicts part of the Netherlands; its remarkable similarity with the original topographic map of its time (~1620) makes comparison a real challenge