LEFT: Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance (detail), c. 1664, National Gallery of Art, Widener Collection. RIGHT: 15th Century French, The Expectant Madonna with Saint Joseph (detail), 15th century, National Gallery of Art, Samuel H. Kress Collection

The woman's serene expression and her blue robe recall images of the Virgin Mary. Her eyes are downcast, her gaze seems to be inward. Golden light falls on her ample belly, further emphasized by a yellow streak. Some contemporary authors speculate that the woman is pregnant, while others conclude that her costume--a short jacket, a bodice, and a thickly padded skirt--reflects a style of dress current in the early to mid-1660s.