Invitation to the press conference for the exhibition “Johannes Vermeer. On Reflection”

Johannes Vermeer. On Reflection

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At the heart of the exhibition curated by Stephan Koja, Uta Neidhardt and Arthur Wheelock is the Dresden piece “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window”, which dates from 1657–1659 and is to be presented to the public for the first time following four years of restoration. Eight other paintings by Vermeer that are closely related to this picture will be arriving from all over Europe and the USA. Vermeer’s oeuvre is very small, with only about 35 works known today.

The high-class loans include “Woman Reading a Letter” and “The Little Street” from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, “Woman Holding a Balance” from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, “Young Woman Standing at the Virginal” from the National Gallery in London, “The Geographer” from the Städel in Frankfurt, “Woman with the Pearl Necklace” from the Gemäldegalerie of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, “The Girl with the Wine Glass” from the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum in Braunschweig and “The Procuress” from Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden. The Frick Collection, in New York, will also be lending the painting “Girl Interrupted at Her Music” to a European institution for the first time. In addition to this, 50 works of Dutch genre painting from the second half of the 17th century, including major works by Pieter de Hooch, Gerard Dou, Frans van Mieris and Gerard Ter Borch, will offer a comprehensive insight into Vermeer’s artistic environment.

The exhibition is divided into 9 sections, each centred in one of Vermeer's paintings. As they walk through the exhibition, the public will pass through galleries dedicated first to an introduction to Vermeer’s artistic setting in Delft, then to the chapters “Reflections of the Soul”, “Reality and Deception”, “When Time Stands Still”, “The Language of Love” or “Messages from the Heart”. Their visit culminates in the highlight of the exhibition: the room where the “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” is presented in its new setting, surrounded by outstanding, unique examples of the decorative arts. A documentation room and a film screening room offer a detailed examination of the restoration itself, along with the scientific investigations carried out on the research project.

The exhibition and restoration of “Girl Reading a Letter“ are accompanied by the Sandstein Verlag catalogue “Johannes Vermeer. On Reflection”, describing current research findings in German and English and published by Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Stephan Koja, Uta Neidhardt and Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., 264 pages, 252 colour illustrations, € 48, subscription price € 34 until 9 September 2021, ISBN 978-3-95498-610-1/ 978-3-95498-611-8.

The exhibition will be taking place in the Winckelmann Forum at the Semperbau am Zwinger from 10 September 2021 to 2 January 2022. As the number of visitors in the exhibition rooms is limited due to Covid-19, timed tickets will be sold. During current opening times, 60 tickets an hour can be purchased via the online shop shop.skd.museum.

As well as various different information services in the exhibition, digital tours are available in German and English for all those who are not able to visit the exhibition at the museum itself.

Opening hours

Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday to 8 p.m.

Ticket prices

Special exhibition on Vermeer: € 12

Combined ticket for special exhibition on Vermeer + Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister: € 20

Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister: € 14

All special exhibition tickets and combined offers are timed tickets and require advance booking. Entry to the special exhibition is not included in the SKD day ticket. The usual regulations on concessions apply to the special exhibition.

Exhibition