For 360 years, her pensive stare has captivated all who have fixed their eyes on hers.

But as for who the muse in Johannes Vermeer’s 1665 work Girl with a Pearl Earring actually was, that has been an open question. 

Now, a leading expert has backed a theory that the girl was the then 10-year-old daughter of Vermeer’s long-time patron.

The artist worked almost exclusively for Dutch husband and wife Pieter van Ruijven and Maria de Knuijt, who were part of a radical Christian sect.

Their daughter, named Magdalena, is ‘likely’ to be the girl wearing the pearl earring in the renowned oil painting, Andrew Graham-Dixon said in the Sunday Times ahead of the publication of his biography of Vermeer. 

The girl is dressed as Jesus’s follower Mary Magdalene and is ‘turning, with such depth of feeling, to Jesus Christ’, the historian said.

In the 2003 film adaptation of Tracy Chevalier’s novel, the girl is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson as being a maid in Vermeer’s household. 

In that fictionalised account, far from being the daughter of van Ruijven, who is played by Tom Wilkinson, Johansson’s character ends up having a romantic liaison him.

Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring has long captivated all who set eyes on the work, which was painted in 1655

Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring has long captivated all who set eyes on the work, which was painted in 1655

The real Pieter van Ruijven and Maria de Knuijt were both Remonstrants. 

The group modelled their lives on the apostles of Jesus Christ and his female followers, including Mary Magdalene.

At the time, the movement was banned throughout the Netherlands. 

As well as being a Remonstrant, Maria – who, rather than Pieter was Vermeer’s main patron – was also part of an even more radical outgrowth of the moment whose members were known as Collegiants.

Both the Remonstrants and Collegiants were pacifists and republicans, as well as being devoted to charity and philanthropy. 

Vermeer was also brought up a Remonstrant and participated in Collegiants’ gatherings.

Mr Graham-Dixon said: ‘Every single one of his paintings was inspired by the religious beliefs cherished by Marie de Knuijt and those close to her, who included Vermeer himself.’

On the subject of Girl With a Pearl Earring, he added: ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring, made even more famous by Tracy Chevalier’s fictionalised account of the girl in her novel and the film adaptation starring Scarlett Johansson, is likely to be a portrait of Maria and Pieter’s daughter, Magdalena. 

Vermeer worked almost exclusively for Dutch husband and wife Pieter van Ruijven and Maria de Knuijt, who were part of a radical Christian sect

Vermeer worked almost exclusively for Dutch husband and wife Pieter van Ruijven and Maria de Knuijt, who were part of a radical Christian sect

Girl with a Pearl Earring on display at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, 2014

Girl with a Pearl Earring on display at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, 2014

‘She would have been 12 in the autumn of 1667, and assuming that she was a Collegiant like her parents, she would have solemnised her commitment to Christ at that age.’

Maria left Vermeer a substantial sum of money in her will and commissioned and owned most his paintings. 

Mr Graham-Dixon’s new book, Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found, is published by Allen Lane later this month.

However, his fellow expert Ruth Millington, the author of Muse: Uncovering the Hidden Figures Behind Art History’s Masterpieces, said Girl With a Pearl Earring should not be interpreted as a portrait of an identifiable person.

She told the Daily Mail: ‘Art historians love to claim new discoveries but this theory has been around for quite some time, as I discovered while writing Muse. 

In the 2003 film adaptation of Tracy Chevalier's novel, the girl is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson as being a maid in Vermeer's household

In the 2003 film adaptation of Tracy Chevalier’s novel, the girl is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson as being a maid in Vermeer’s household

‘Experts such as Dr Judith Noorman have previously argued that the daughter of Vermeer’s patron was the real Girl with a Pearl Earring.

‘But really the allure of this painting is the mystery of the muse. It’s not meant to be a direct portrait of a sitter who can be easily identified, but rather a “tronie”, a picture of an imaginary figure. 

‘Too often, people read paintings as purely biographical when there’s more complexity to them. 

‘For instance, the Mona Lisa’s real model was actually Leonardo da Vinci’s male studio assistant but the picture is not meant to be read as a direct portrait of him!

‘Artists like to keep us guessing, that’s what keeps us coming back to look at Girl with a Pearl Earring.’ 

Girl with a Pearl Earring was painted by Vermeer in 1665. The artist died a decade later aged just 43.  Â