Delft, Holland, 1665. Seventeen-year-old Griet must work to support her family and becomes a maid in the house of Johannes Vermeer, where she gradually attracts the master painter's attention. Johannes and Griet must hid their inspiration of each other from his volatile wife Catharina. The weatlthy and troublemaking Master van Ruijven senses the intimacy between the artist and his maid contrives a commission for Vermeer to paint Griet alone. The result will be one the greatest paintings ever created, but at what cost?