The Letter Reading - October 1992 by Charles Oakley

Signed lower left facing

From the estate of the artist

Based on Johannes Vermeer’s Lady in Blue reading a letter

Visits to Dutch museums with the fine art students from Newcastle Poly gave Charles Oakley the opportunity to absorb the incredible skill and detail of the Dutch masters. He admired the intimate moments observed in Vermeer’s interiors and the play of light and shade that brought the mysterious scenes to life. In this painting, Charles Oakley has played with Vermeer’s theme, capturing the letter-reader, one assumes alone, in a state of undress, surrounded by the familiar objects and furnishings from the original painting, the blue dress draped over a chair. The Delft tiles that skirt the room are inspired by other Vermeer paintings and observations that Oakley made on his visits to the Netherlands.