This painting entered the Royal Collection as a work by Frans van Mieris the Elder. It was not correctly attributed to Vermeer until over 100 years later. It is one of only 34 existent paintings by the artist.

The perspective of the painting is unusual and some elements are revealed only upon closer inspection. In the mirror above the young woman you can see she is looking up at her music tutor rather than focusing on her instrument. Vermeer explores the relationship between the two but the nature of this remains unclear.