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