The first record concerning Johannes Vermeer after his entry in the baptismal registry of the Nieuwe Kerk is a testimony dated 5th April 1653.This testimony was drawn up by request of the artist and his future wife, Catharina Bolnes.
The document states that Catharina's mother, Maria Thins, did not approve of her daughter's suitor, but that she would not stand in the way of their marriage. One of the witnesses to this statement was the painter Leonaert Bramer. The young couple went to the town hall to proclaim the banns on the same day that Bramer made the statement.
The town hall of Delft, where Vermeer proclaimed the banns, was rebuilt after a fire by Hendrick de Keyser in 1618. All that is left of the old medieval building is the high, square tower, known as The Stone. Part of the tower was used as a prison. Some of the prison accommodation is still in the original state.
Hendrick de Keyser designed the facade of the new town fall in
late renaissance style. A porch was built over the entrance;This
enabled enabling condemned prisoners detained in The Stone to
be led straight out to the scaffold, erected in front of the town
hall whenever there was an execution.
High up in the facade is the
coat of arms of Holland and a statue of Justice holding her symbols,
the sword and the balance. The coat of arms of Prince Maurice
can be seen underneath the statue of Justice.
The building was considered the most beautiful town hall in the
Northern Netherlands, until Jacob van Campen built the new town
hall at Amsterdam, which is now the Royal Palace.
Delft
Station
Hata Stichting
Foundation