Girl with a Pearl Earring

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 – Jonathon Mayo
Junior Producer – Jamie Adam
Sound Design - Tom Burchell
Production Manager – Sera Baker

A TBI Media production for BBC Radio 4