A Lady at the Virginals with a Gentleman (detail)
by VERMEER, Johannes, Oil on canvas
The use of the inverted Galilean telescope becomes evident if one examines the perspective and the relative importance of the table at the right, covered with an Oriental rug, upon which stands a white pitcher on a silver plate.
White porcelain jugs appear repeatedly in Vermeer’s art. They contained wine, which was supposed to act as a love potion and help men seduce women.