Ruth Leon recommends… Vermeer – the exhibition of the century
Ruth Leon recommendsVermeer – the exhibition of the century
Click here for tickets – tv subscription
In the spring of 2023, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam opened its doors to the largest Vermeer exhibition in history. By the time I found out about it and tried to book tickets the show was completely sold out.
It’s not the same, of course, but this award-winning film offers you the chance to experience the exhibition of the century on screen.
With loans from across the world, this major retrospective brings together Vermeer’s most famous masterpieces including Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Geographer, The Milkmaid, The Little Street, Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid, and Woman Holding a Balance. In all, 28 of his surviving 37 works.
This film invites audiences to a privileged view of the exhibition, accompanied by the director of the Rijksmuseum and the curators of the show. A truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover the genius of Vermeer and his fascinating and mysterious life.
The director is David Bickerstaff and the film is narrated by Robert Lindsay
Vermeer was practically unknown in the Dutch Republic, and it was, after his death, collectors from abroad who came to Delft to find these masterpieces. Vermeer’s eventual fame began in France in the 19th century. Rembrandt was left to his own devices when he was declared bankrupt, Jongkind (who inspired impressionism in France) was completely ignored in Holland. It shows how the locals view the arts and their own treasures.
They also neglected van Gogh during his lifetime.
Indeed. But he was also ignored in France during his life, because his works were so ‘rough’ in comparison with what other painters were doing at the time.
Often Dutch artists try to leave the country to find some better cultural climate elsewhere. When they get recognition abroad and return, they are suddenly received with enthusiasm – ‘He is one of us!’
I was the same soon as I was aware of the show, tickets were gone! Well cheesed off!!!
I, too, failed to get tickets. Unfortunately The Girl with a Pearl Earring was only in the Exhibition for the first few weeks. By the time friends from the UK flew over to visit, it had been withdrawn as the Museum in its regular home in The Hague wanted it back for the tourist season!