A hitherto unrecognized painting by Jan Vermeer of Delft (1632-1675), who is acclaimed by some discerning critics as the greatest painter of all time, has been discovered in Paris. It represents a young boy, half-length, full-face, auburn curls, scalloped collar, yellowish silver-gray jacket, brownish-red cloak. Many connoisseurs had seen the picture but had not suspected its authorship until a dealer, noting the resemblance to Vermeer's charming Young Girl in the Mauritshuis, The Hague, found various other clues, and was corroborated by the leading Vermeer critic.
The romance of Vermeer's resurrection after two...