The National Gallery, London, offered a fresh look at one of the most startling and fascinating artists of all – Johannes Vermeer. The National Gallery chose to focus on Vermeer's relationship with music. It is one of the most popular themes of Dutch painting and reveals an enormous amount about the sitter and the society they lived in. New research, revealed for the first time at this exhibition, showed how his technique and materials affected Vermeer's works. Tim Marlow goes beyond the exhibition to tell the entire story of Vermeer's life and, in doing so, shows in detail many other of the artist's captivating works. For those inspired by the 2003 film, Girl with a Pearl Earring, starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson, this new, cinematic exploration will take their enjoyment and fascination of Vermeer's life and work to a new level.