Johannes Vermeer, 17th-century Dutch artist, known for his luminous paintings of daily life, allegorical scenes, and cityscapes. Although only about 36 of his paintings survive, including Girl with a Pearl Earring, these rare works are among the greatest treasures in the world’s finest museums.
A depiction of Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ, stolen from an Odesa museum in 2008, has for years been embroiled in controversy over its theft, dramatic recovery and, most importantly, its origins as an authentic painting by Caravaggio himself