Johannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) lived and worked in Delft. His work is best known for his tranquil, introverted indoor scenes, his unprecedented use of bright, colorful light and his convincing illusionism.

In contrast to Rembrandt, Vermeer left a remarkably small oeuvre with about 35 paintings. As his paintings are generally considered the most prized treasures of every museum collection, Vermeer paintings are rarely lent out.

International loans

The exhibition will include masterpieces such as 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) and Woman Holding a Balance (The National Gallery of Art, Washington DC).

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.

Research together with the Mauritshuis museum

Preparations for the exhibition are currently underway. The research focuses on Vermeer's artistry, his artistic choices and motivations for his compositions, as well as into the creative process of his paintings.

For this exhibition we work closely with the Mauritshuis in The Hague. A team of curators, restorers and natural scientists to examine in depth the seven paintings by Vermeer in Dutch possession. Works by Vermeer from other collections are also involved in this project.

Closer to Vermeer: an online exploration with Stephen Fry

We bring the magic of Vermeer to life in this online exploration of all of his 37 paintings. Let Stephen Fry or Joy Delima take you past the most beautiful details and the most intriguing stories. Or get to work yourself and discover the stories behind the paintings. Zoom in, compare and create your own collection. What discoveries will you make?