Balthasar de Monconys

Balthasar de Monconys (1611–1665) was a French traveller, diplomat, physicist and magistrate, who left a diary, which was published by his son as Journal des voyages de Monsieur de Monconys, Conseiller du Roy en ses Conseils d’Estat & Privé, & Lieutenant Criminel au Siège Presidial de Lyon, 2 vols., Lyon, 1665–1666.

He travelled to Portugal, England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the Middle East (visiting Baalbek in 1647).

Monconys first visited Delft in search of a hidden church.

His second visit, in August 1663, was to meet an artist with a growing reputation.

[2] Vermeer had no paintings to show Monconys and his companion, a clergyman from The Hague, so they were directed to the local baker Hendrick van Buyten, who possessed one of the artist's paintings.