Johannes Vermeer, The Lacemaker, c. 1670–1671, oil on canvas on panel, Musée du Louvre, Département des peintures, Paris, Acquired in 1870

Gabriel Metsu, Man Writing a Letter, c. 1664–1666, oil on panel, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Sir Alfred and Lady Beit, 1987 (Beit Collection)

Gabriel Metsu, Woman Reading a Letter, c. 1664–1666, oil on panel, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Sir Alfred and Lady Beit, 1987 (Beit Collection)

Johannes Vermeer, A Lady Writing, c. 1665-1667, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Harry Waldron Havemeyer and Horace Havemeyer, Jr, in memory of their father, Horace Havemeyer

Johannes Vermeer, The Love Letter, c. 1669-1670, oil on canvas, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt

Gerrit Dou, Woman at the Clavichord, c. 1665, oil on panel, By Permission of the Trustees of Dulwich Picture Gallery, London

Gerard ter Borch, Lady at Her Toilet, c. 1660, oil on canvas, Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Eleanor Clay Ford Fund, General Membership Fund, Endowment Income Fund and Special Activities Fund

Caspar Netscher, Woman Feeding a Parrot, with a Page, 1666, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund

Gabriel Metsu, The Intruder, c. 1659–1662, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Andrew W. Mellon Collection

Gerard ter Borch, The Suitor’s Visit, c. 1658, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Andrew W. Mellon Collection

Johannes Vermeer, The Astronomer, 1668, oil on canvas, Musée du Louvre, Paris, Département des peintures, Acquired by "dation" in 1982.  Photo © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée du Louvre)/Franck Raux