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A historic reunion: Largest exhibition of Vermeer paintings to open in Amsterdam

Twenty-eight paintings by artist Johannes Vermeer are all set to go on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, this week, the largest-ever exhibition of works of the 17th-century Dutch master, known for his expertise at rendering light and intimate household scenes. The show gathers half the works that Vermeer, who died aged 43 and worked slowly, is thought ever to have painted and three-quarters of those that still exist. He likely never saw so many of his own works together at one time.

Published on: Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM IST

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Considered to be Vermeer's most famous painting, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” seen at the Vermeer exhibit at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. Starting February 10, the exhibition will unveil a blockbuster collection of 28 paintings by the 17th-century Dutch artist drawn from galleries around the world.  (Peter Dejong / AP )

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

Considered to be Vermeer's most famous painting, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” seen at the Vermeer exhibit at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. Starting February 10, the exhibition will unveil a blockbuster collection of 28 paintings by the 17th-century Dutch artist drawn from galleries around the world. (Peter Dejong / AP )

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People seen passing under the Vermeer exhibit sign at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. Netherland's national museum of art and history brings together 28 of Vermeer's paintings from seven countries- considerably a historic feat, since only 37 paintings are generally ascribed to the artist who lived from 1632-1675 in the city of Delft.  (Peter Dejong / AP )

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

People seen passing under the Vermeer exhibit sign at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. Netherland's national museum of art and history brings together 28 of Vermeer's paintings from seven countries- considerably a historic feat, since only 37 paintings are generally ascribed to the artist who lived from 1632-1675 in the city of Delft. (Peter Dejong / AP )

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A man looks at Vermeer's painting “The Milkmaid” at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, on February 6. Vermeer earned the nickname “The Sphinx of Delft” because so little was known about him — he left behind no letters or diaries and there are no known portraits of him. But recent research has begun to unravel the mysteries of the painter.  (Piroschka van de Wouw / REUTERS)

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

A man looks at Vermeer's painting “The Milkmaid” at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, on February 6. Vermeer earned the nickname “The Sphinx of Delft” because so little was known about him — he left behind no letters or diaries and there are no known portraits of him. But recent research has begun to unravel the mysteries of the painter. (Piroschka van de Wouw / REUTERS)

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A woman seen taking photos of “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. Vermeer's use of light — often coming from a window situated on the left of the canvas — the bold colors and meticulous composition can be seen throughout the exhibition, AP reported.  (Peter Dejong / AP )

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

A woman seen taking photos of “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. Vermeer's use of light — often coming from a window situated on the left of the canvas — the bold colors and meticulous composition can be seen throughout the exhibition, AP reported. (Peter Dejong / AP )

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Women stand in front of Vermeer's “Allegory of the Catholic faith” at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, on February 6. The show in Amsterdam opens on February 10 and runs to June 4. It has already become the Rijksmuseum's most in-demand exhibition, with nearly 200,000 being sold so far, AP reported.

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

Women stand in front of Vermeer's “Allegory of the Catholic faith” at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, on February 6. The show in Amsterdam opens on February 10 and runs to June 4. It has already become the Rijksmuseum's most in-demand exhibition, with nearly 200,000 being sold so far, AP reported.

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A close-up of “Woman with a Pearl Necklace”, on loan from Staatliche Museen, Berlin, by Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum for the Vermeer exhibit. Some masterpieces have had a longer journey for the exhibition that has been some eight years in the making. "Officer and Laughing Girl," “Mistress and Maid” and “Girl Interrupted at her Music” flew from the U.S. East Coast, leaving the Frick Collection while the New York museum undergoes restoration. (Peter Dejong / AP )

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

A close-up of “Woman with a Pearl Necklace”, on loan from Staatliche Museen, Berlin, by Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum for the Vermeer exhibit. Some masterpieces have had a longer journey for the exhibition that has been some eight years in the making. "Officer and Laughing Girl," “Mistress and Maid” and “Girl Interrupted at her Music” flew from the U.S. East Coast, leaving the Frick Collection while the New York museum undergoes restoration. (Peter Dejong / AP )

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Tracy Chevalier, author of the book ‘Girl With A Pearl Earring’, poses in front of Vermeer's painting that inspired her book, at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. For her the exhibition evoked an image of Vermeer as a reserved man who “plays his cards close to his chest,” she told Reuters.  (Peter Dejong / AP )

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

Tracy Chevalier, author of the book ‘Girl With A Pearl Earring’, poses in front of Vermeer's painting that inspired her book, at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. For her the exhibition evoked an image of Vermeer as a reserved man who “plays his cards close to his chest,” she told Reuters. (Peter Dejong / AP )

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Rijksmuseum General Director Taco Dibbits, seen here in front of the painting “Mistress and Maid”, believes the exhibition provides a chance for visitors to immerse themselves in the exquisite interior scenes for which Vermeer is best known. “Vermeer has this quality of kind of everything is perfect. Everything falls in place," Dibbits said. "There’s perfect happiness in his scenes. There’s tranquility, there’s intimacy.”  (Piroschka van de Wouw / REUTERS)

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

Rijksmuseum General Director Taco Dibbits, seen here in front of the painting “Mistress and Maid”, believes the exhibition provides a chance for visitors to immerse themselves in the exquisite interior scenes for which Vermeer is best known. “Vermeer has this quality of kind of everything is perfect. Everything falls in place," Dibbits said. "There’s perfect happiness in his scenes. There’s tranquility, there’s intimacy.” (Piroschka van de Wouw / REUTERS)

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A man looks at “View of Delft” at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. "For me personally Vermeer is one of the greatest artists in the world," said Gregor Weber, the Rijksmuseum's fine arts department head and author of a recent book showing Vermeer was influenced by a pinhole camera that was first introduced to him by Jesuit priests.  "To have three-quarters of his oeuvre together here in Amsterdam under one roof is the crown of my work."  (Peter Dejong / AP )

Published on Feb 08, 2023 5:28 PM

A man looks at “View of Delft” at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, on February 6. "For me personally Vermeer is one of the greatest artists in the world," said Gregor Weber, the Rijksmuseum's fine arts department head and author of a recent book showing Vermeer was influenced by a pinhole camera that was first introduced to him by Jesuit priests. "To have three-quarters of his oeuvre together here in Amsterdam under one roof is the crown of my work." (Peter Dejong / AP )

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