Mädchen steht am Fenster und liest einen Brief
© Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Foto: Wolfgang Kreische

Johannes Vermeer. On Reflection

Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” is one of the most famous works of Dutch Golden Age painting. The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister presents it along with nine other paintings by Vermeer and a selection of around 50 works of Dutch genre painting in the largest Vermeer exhibition ever organised in Germany.

  • DATES 10/09/2021—02/01/2022

Online program

The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive online program. In the guided tours via video conference through the virtual exhibition and online talks in German or English, we invite you to discover Vermeer and his artistic environment.

Read more

 

© Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Foto: Elke Estel, Hans-Peter Klut

Film

Supported by intensive scientific investigation and an international commission of experts, the painting was restored in the restoration studio for paintings at the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden between 2017 and 2021.

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Johannes Vermeer. Vom Innehalten | 10.09.2021—02.01.2022 | Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden

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In the course of the work process, it was discovered that a long-known extensive area of overpainting on the rear wall of the interior in the “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” does not derive from Vermeer himself, but must have been executed by another hand some time after his death. The light-coloured overpainting was therefore gradually removed to reveal the underlying motif of a standing Cupid with a bow, arrows and two masks, as a “painting within the painting” on the rear wall of the room.

Mädchen steht am Fenster und liest einen Brief
© Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Foto: Wolfgang Kreische
Johannes Vermeer, Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, 1657-59 condition after restoration

bilder

Die Entfernung weiterer alter Retuschen

By removing old areas of retouching and layers of varnish, the original dazzling vibrancy of the colours was reestablished. “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” has fundamentally changed its appearance and must now be viewed and read in a new light. Since only about 35 of Vermeer’s paintings survive, the restoration of this early major work to its original condition also has implications for the interpretation of his entire oeuvre.

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Dies ist für die Gemäldegalerie

For this reason, the Gemäldegalerie is holding an exhibition in which the “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window” is shown in conjunction with nine other paintings by Vermeer that are closely related to it. The works by the Delft painter, including “Woman in Blue Reading a Letter”, “Lady Standing at a Virginal” and “Woman Holding a Balance”, are accompanied by an exquisite selection of works of Dutch genre painting that illustrate relationships and interactions between the works of Vermeer and his contemporary artist colleagues.

© Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, Foto: Frans Pegt
Gerard Houckgeest, Die Oude Kerk in Delft, 1654 Öl auf Holz, 49 x 41 cm, Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum

Filme

Weborello to the exhibition

Discover the background and interesting facts about Johannes Vermeer and 17th century Dutch genre painting in this free weborello.

To the weborello

© Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

Program

Currently no dates

Publikation

Restoration

Over the years, Vermeer's painting "Girl reading a letter at an Open Window" has been extensively restored and researched.

Strahlendiagnostische Untersuchung
© SKD, Foto: Wolfgang Kreische
film documentation

Restoration process of the Girl Reading a Letter

Learn about the stages of the restoration.

Restauration of Vermeer's "Girl Reading a Letter at an open Window", 1657-59
© Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Foto: Wolfgang Kreische
further films on our Youtube channel

Online Curator Talks

In our Youtube playlist you can find the past online curator talks.

Besondere Angebote

Vermeer. On Reflection

Editor: Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden; Stephan Koja; Uta Neidhardt; Arthur K. Wheelock Jr.; 256 pages, 29 x 24 cm. 48 € (museum price 34€).

Vermeer. Vom Innehalten
Information for journalists

Newsroom

You will find high-resolution press photos and further information in our press area.

Mädchen steht am Fenster und liest einen Brief
© Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Foto: Wolfgang Kreische

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