VERMEER

ohannes Vermeer is famous around the world for his paintings of calm scenes in domestic settings, his unprecedented use of bright, colorful light and his convincing illusionism. In contrast to Rembrandt, Vermeer left a remarkably small oeuvre with about 37 works. As his paintings are generally considered the most prized treasures of every museum collection, Vermeer paintings are rarely lent out. And this is what makes the Rijksmuseum’s retrospective exhibition to the 17th-century master – currently running until 4th June 2023 –so spectacular. Never before have so many paintings by Vermeer been brought together in one place. Photography courtesy Rijksmuseum.

The Rijksmuseum’s landmark Vermeer exhibition is the biggest-ever exhibition devoted exclusively to the master painter of Delft. At least 28 paintings out of Vermeer’s very small oeuvre have been loaned from museums and collections from Europe, the United States and Japan. In many cases, this will be the first time they are exhibited in the Netherlands. In an extraordinary gesture the Frick Collection has lent all three of its Vermeer masterpieces to the exhibition: The Girl Interrupted at Her Music, Officer and Laughing Girl, and Mistress and Maid. The Rijksmuseum exhibition will be the first time that all three paintings are shown together outside of New York since they were acquired more than a century ago.

Two paintings have undergone extensive examination at the Rijksmuseum prior to the exhibition. A team of leading curators, conservators and scientists worked together closely to conduct new research into Vermeer’s paintings using the latest available technology. The insights gained shed new light on Vermeer’s life and work, his personal circumstances, the artistic choices and motivations for his compositions, as well as the creative process behind his paintings.

Additional highlights include The Girl with a Pearl Earring (Mauritshuis, The Hague), The Geographer (Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main), Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid (The National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Woman Holding a Balance (The National Gallery of Art, Washington DC), The Glass of Wine (Gemäldegalerie, Berlin), Young Woman with a Lute (Metropolitan Museum, NYC) and The Lacemaker (Louvre, Paris). Works never before shown to the public in the Netherlands will include the newly restored Girl Reading a Letter at the Open Window from the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden. The Rijksmuseum itself owns four masterpieces by Vermeer: The Milkmaid, The Little Street, Woman Reading a Letter and The Love Letter.

Taco Dibbits, General Director Rijksmuseum says that “this exhibition offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience such a large number of Vermeer paintings come together in one place. It is an exciting prospect for the public and all Vermeer lovers, as well as scientists, conservators and art historians. We are extremely grateful to the partnering museums and organisations who have made this exhibition possible with very exceptional and generous loans.”

In conjunction with the exhibition the Rijksmuseum launched the digital experience Closer to Johannes Vermeer, available for free to all Vermeer lovers around the world. The digital experience transports visitors into the artist’s universe, packed with fascinating stories and facts about Vermeer and his work. This interactive journey of discovery includes all 28 Vermeer paintings in the Rijksmuseum exhibition plus the nine additional works attributed to the artist. The experience also offers a rare opportunity to compare recurring motives throughout Vermeer’s paintings: pearls, yellow jackets, curtains, maps, use of the ultramarine, etc. Utilising the latest available technology, for the first time visitors will be able to zoom in on the tiniest pigment particles in pin-sharp detail via ultra-high resolution photographs of some Vermeer paintings.

The exhibition is on at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam until 4 June 2023 and will be the only venue.