Vermeer shines at ‘once in history’ Amsterdam show
The Dutch master Johannes Vermeer himself never got the chance to see so many of his paintings in the same place. Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum has brought together 28 of Vermeer’s luminous masterpieces from around the world, in the largest-ever exhibition of the 17th century artist’s works. Curators hope the blockbuster show, featuring some three-quarters of his modest output of around 35 paintings, will also shed light on the enigmatic creator of Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Milkmaid. “Never in history have 28 paintings by Vermeer been gathered,” Rijksmuseum General Director Taco Dibbits told AFP at a preview. A banner advertising a Vermeer show hanngs outside the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on February 6. “He didn’t even see that many together himself.” Famed for their use of light and colour and their tranquil yet haunting indoor scenes, Vermeer’s paintings practically shine from the walls of the dimmed galleries at the Rijksmuseum. The works have been brought from museums and collections around the world, including Washington, New York, Tokyo, London, Paris, Dublin. “It’s a very happy reunion,” said Dibbits. Interest is so intense that the Rijksmuseum has already sold 200,000...