THE GOLDFINCH

Oil on Canvas 9" x 13"

by

Pamela Jarrett

(Inspired by original of Carel Fabritius, 1654)

            In January 2014, I traveled to New York to see the exhibit of Vermeer at the Frick Collection.   There were only a handful of paintings by Vermeer, most notably The Girl With The Pearl Earring, which was a stunningly beautiful painting.  However, in the main room there was a small, rather uncomplicated painting called The Goldfinch, by Fabritius. The pet bird depicted is tethered to a box by a chain attached to its leg.  I could see from across the room it was luminous.

            The expression on the Goldfinch’s face is anguish, pride and defiance.  It is an emotional painting and one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.  I was compelled to paint a reproduction.  The yellow painted on its wing is 22k gold.  By working with a photographer who had seen the painting in Holland, I managed to get an accurate image.