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Rijksmuseum to Stage the Largest Vermeer Exhibition in 2023

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Re: Rijksmuseum to Stage the Largest Vermeer Exhibition in 2023

#31

Post by jmkd »

For a while I worked at Kenwood House in Hampstead, London. Home of Vermeer's The Guitar Player.

As you may know, Vermeers are so few and far between that it's entirely possible to see every one (~36) if you're able to travel the world.

So, there exists a subculture of (often) wealthy Vermeer completeists who travel the world doing exactly that.

Every month or so at Kenwood, we would be instructed to come in early to host such collectors who had made arrangements for a private viewing of this Vermeer.

An entourage would roll up around 6-7am to whisk a high-flyer into the room the Vermeer was displayed.

More often than not the individual - who was so determined to see this painting they'd paid English Heritage who knows how much - took a momentary glance and was off again.

I'm talking all that trouble for 1-2 minutes in front of the Vermeer so they could check it off their list. And then they were off.

I'd happily spend the next 8 hours in front of it observing public responses and daydreaming of how to prevent elaborate art thefts (the painting was stolen by the IRA in 1974 and IMHO could certainly be stolen again).

Re: Rijksmuseum to Stage the Largest Vermeer Exhibition in 2023

#33

Post by Fnoord »

tinus_hn wrote: post #23
Freak_NL wrote: post #10

If you wish to visit this exhibition, try to plan your visit well outside of the tourist season. The exhibition runs from February 10th 2023 to June 4th 2023, so my advice would be to aim for February, March, or early April at the latest. The Rijksmuseum is situated on a square in Amsterdam alongside the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk and draws a crowd for its special exhibitions and top pieces. (Edit: Forgot to m…

Given the state of Dutch COVID politics I’d suggest saving yourself the effort and planning a visit to an attraction in another country instead.

For those who don't know: other European countries have a similar state of COVID-19 policies, or worse (more discrimination between vaccinated and unvaccinated than The Netherlands). If you're properly vaccinated, it isn't a big nuisance to enter The Netherlands (or European Union for that matter) but ensure you do some research before you book (IMO you should get informed via your travel agency; it is their moral obligation to safely sent you in the right direction). If you're not vaccinated, get vaccinated, and ensure you read up on your limitations. If I were not vaccinated I would not even want to travel to a foreign country. Unless if I am sure I am immune due to recent infection.

Re: Rijksmuseum to Stage the Largest Vermeer Exhibition in 2023

#34

Post by Vinnl »

The Mauritshuis, the regular home of The Girl with a Pearl Earring, is also well worth your while. It's a lot smaller than the Rijksmuseum, so you don't need to set aside as much time, but additionally has The Goldfinch by Fabritius (recommended companion read: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt) and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt.

Re: Rijksmuseum to Stage the Largest Vermeer Exhibition in 2023

#36

Post by pvaldes »

MomoXenosaga wrote: post #7

Interestingly Vermeer died penniless and nobody liked his paintings until they were rediscovered in the 19th century. A common theme in the Netherlands. I always joke that it's better to be an artist in Iran. Culture is a waste of time and artists are just lazy bastards who need to get a real job. A merchant Republic like Venice but it never lost its focus on money for fashion.

Too much fun making babies leads to money vanishing fast.

With a family of 14 living only from their income as artist he was reasonably paid for the time, probably.

Re: Rijksmuseum to Stage the Largest Vermeer Exhibition in 2023

#38

Post by TedDoesntTalk »

wodenokoto wrote: post #20
the_biot wrote: post #3

If you're a basic techie with little appreciation for the fine arts, watch a film called "Tim's Vermeer". It will make you want to go to this exhibition.

I appreciate the recommendation, but I don’t appreciate being called “basic”.

It is your choice to be offended or not to be offended. If you choose the former, it’s not the OPs responsibility to soothe you.

Re: Rijksmuseum to Stage the Largest Vermeer Exhibition in 2023

#39

Post by pradn »

jmkd wrote: post #31

For a while I worked at Kenwood House in Hampstead, London. Home of Vermeer's The Guitar Player. As you may know, Vermeers are so few and far between that it's entirely possible to see every one (~36) if you're able to travel the world. So, there exists a subculture of (often) wealthy Vermeer completeists who travel the world doing exactly that. Every month or so at Kenwood, we would be instructed to come in early to…

There's 9 Vermeers just within a few blocks in New York: 4 at the Frick Collection and 5 at the Metropolitan Museum.

Re: Rijksmuseum to Stage the Largest Vermeer Exhibition in 2023

#40

Post by tinco »

toolz wrote: post #28
wodenokoto wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I appreciate the recommendation, but I don’t appreciate being called “basic”.

Would you rather have unique tastes that make you relatable to no one or would you rather have preferences that put you in a category of people that makes you relatable and approachable? I've never understood this aversion to "basic" - it feels like vanity to me when people have a desire to be unique just for the sake of standing out. It seems like society would collapse if everyone was truly unique. Maybe you or som…

Maybe if you were less basic you would understand, and you could join those unique individuals with a grasp on why humans are vain.
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