Girl with a Pearl Earring

Available for over a year

Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of the most famous paintings, perhaps one of the most famous faces, in the world. But that fame is a decidedly modern phenomenon. In this series, art historian Dr James Fox traces the twists of fate and happy accidents that pushed a handful of artworks to the forefront of pop culture. For Vermeer's Girl, it's a journey that began in obscurity and has only recently catapulted the portrait to the status of a global icon. As James traces the story of the painting's fame, he asks why it has become so dominant while other Vermeer masterpieces are now less known. Producer – Julia Johnson Executive Producer – Jonathan Mayo Junior Producer – Jamie Adam Sound Design - Tom Burchell Production Manager – Sera Baker A TBI Media production for BBC Radio 4