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-   -   For Vermeer lovers (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/for-vermeer-lovers-1703608/)

gruezi Dec 3rd, 2021 07:26 AM

Heti - it was the one where Sunflowers has its home IIRC. But, I recall a lot of things in both museums were moved about due to renovations. I can’t recall how many years ago - probably over 10.


ps Maybe a positive of Covid will be less people per time slot - IME, those timed admissions are still very crowded and I’m short so often get frustrated when tall people stand in front of me. The jostling to see great art really detracts from the experience for me.

hetismij2 Dec 3rd, 2021 07:37 AM

That's the van Gogh yes. I think it works really well as a museum.
I went a couple of years ago now for the Hockney exhibition. We had my grandsons birthday to go to so we didn't visit the main part again, or the Rijks.
Living where we do now it is a total pia to get to Amsterdam sadly. What used to be a simple 40 minute train ride is now a minimum of 2 hours 40 minutes and several changes by train or an hour by car plus finding parking at a park and ride and bus into town.
From where we used to live I could get to Cologne in about the same time as it now takes me to get Amsterdam by train. And for less money!!!

WeisserTee Dec 3rd, 2021 07:50 AM


Originally Posted by hetismij2 (Post 17310923)
I fully expect it will be by timed ticket admission only to spread the crowds, just as a normal ticket is.
I love the van Gogh Museum, maybe you were thinking of the Stedelijk which is pug ugly?

I hope so but am skeptical. I've been to too many "tickets only" exhibitions where the museums clearly oversold the number of tickets. Even with timed tickets, the exhibitions were uncomfortably packed to the rafters, as people tended to stay longer than usual. Meaning that earlier timed entry groups were still there even as new timed groups were pouring in. Timing really only works if there are timed exits (as in: ok, you've been here long enough, move along) as well as entrances, but nobody seems to do that. And with an artist as popular as Vermeer....

I am glad I got to see his paintings at Mauritshuis while visiting on a rainy Feb day; the museum was practically empty. And at the Vienna art museum, I had their Vermeer to myself for 20 minutes.

This is an interesting site on all things Vermeer, including where to find his paintings. Essential Vermeer


amyb Jun 1st, 2022 11:10 AM

Update on this...I was chatting with one of the scholars writing the catalog for this exhibition. He said they've requested loans so that they'll have 32 Vermeers. Three cannot travel: the Woman Sleeping at the Met (because of Robert Lehman's conditions in his bequest), the Kenwood House Vermeer due to the National Trust's rules and the Art of Painting, which they think is too fragile to make the trek from Vienna. The rest are all tentatively in play. They are planning for them anyway. There is also a "newly discovered" Vermeer in a private collection in Japan that they are trying to get on loan. Rijksmuseum is also trying to decide whether to hang them chronologically or try to develop a theme that will help beginner art fans understand Vermeer. The fear is if you just hang them without a context, not everyone will learn something. Realistically due to the fragility of the paintings, it's the last chance to properly educate on Vermeer's entire oeuvre in one place and they want to take advantage of that. At the same time, the Mauritshuis will have an exhibition on Vermeer's influence and those who were influence by Vermeer. Unless COVID gets in the way, I'm planning on going in March.

Sassafrass Jun 1st, 2022 12:02 PM

This seems so fantastic! A once in a lifetime chance.

basingstoke2 Jun 1st, 2022 01:51 PM


Originally Posted by Coquelicot (Post 17310783)
We saw 21 Vermeers at the National Gallery in Washington about 25 years ago. The exhibit was packed and it was almost impossible to get a good look at each one. I'm sure the crowds will be even worse for the 2023 show. I'm going to put it on my calendar anyway.

Did we meet standing on line?

Underhill Jun 1st, 2022 04:00 PM

What a great opportunity! We too saw the exhibit at the National Gallery and were totally awed by the paintings. Now if only the NG could assemble a Leonardo exhibit to go along with his only painting in North America. Probably not in my lifetime.

Fra_Diavolo Jun 1st, 2022 04:20 PM

They're able to get the ones in the Frick? I thought those were not permitted to be moved either. In fact, they couldn't even take them across Fifth to the Met! Maybe it's because the Frick is being remodeled.

AGM_Cape_Cod Jun 1st, 2022 04:34 PM

I was supposed to go to Amsterdam in April 2020 and well you know... Then we booked to go this April but we worried about getting out of Amsterdam so cancelled. So we are planning for next April. I am traveling with my best friend from college who is a Vermeer fanatic.

amyb Jun 1st, 2022 04:35 PM


Originally Posted by Fra_Diavolo (Post 17368184)
They're able to get the ones in the Frick? I thought those were not permitted to be moved either. In fact, they couldn't even take them across Fifth to the Met! Maybe it's because the Frick is being remodeled.

He said “all of them are in play” and none have been refused yet, except for the 3 they already know can’t loan. But he did seem to think the door wasn’t completely closed on the Vienna Vermeer. I read that the Frick did plan to showcase The Frick Vermeers at the Madison Ave location. I haven’t been to NYC since March 2020 though to see for myself. Anyone else know?

From their website.

New Perspectives on Old Masters

The Frick Madison installation will be presented across three floors of the Breuer building, with paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts organized by time period, geographic region, and media. Highlighting strengths in particular schools and genres, the display will present the collection in galleries dedicated to Northern European, Italian, Spanish, British, and French art, setting the stage for rooms dedicated exclusively to works by individual artists, including Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Van Dyck. “Through fresh juxtapositions we will present our masterpieces in a completely different light, revealing unexpected relationships between subjects, artists, and media,” states Salomon. “For example, the Frick’s small but significant group of Spanish paintings, by artists from El Greco to Goya, will be shown together for the first time. The opportunity to deconstruct and re-present our collection in this way offers an invaluable learning experience that will enrich our understanding and enjoyment of the collection while we are at Frick Madison, as well as when we return to the domestic setting of 1 East 70th Street.”

BetsyG Jun 2nd, 2022 05:31 AM

Are the dates still supposed to be Feb. 10, 2023-June 4, 2023?

amyb Jun 2nd, 2022 06:33 AM


Originally Posted by BetsyG (Post 17368347)
Are the dates still supposed to be Feb. 10, 2023-June 4, 2023?

Yes it is.

Dukey1 Jun 2nd, 2022 08:38 AM

Thanks for this. I just wish it were going to be on when I am in Amsterdam this coming September.

AJPeabody Jun 2nd, 2022 05:31 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I suspect it may take a lot of advance planning to get travel, lodging and timed tickets all coordinated I surely want to go.

amyb Jun 3rd, 2022 06:41 AM


Originally Posted by AJPeabody (Post 17368582)
Thanks for the heads up. I suspect it may take a lot of advance planning to get travel, lodging and timed tickets all coordinated I surely want to go.

Agreed. The timing is a bit unfortunate too because it hits during tulip season, which is already a very busy time in and around Amsterdam from late March to early May.

Trophywife007 Jun 6th, 2022 12:32 PM

Bookmarking -- Any information on where tickets can be obtained when they are available would be great. TIA


Dania Sep 8th, 2022 07:34 AM

Tickets are now available (I had signed up for the museum newsletter so got notice). I was able to buy mine online today through the Rijksmuseum website. Very excited!!! Thanks to the OP for letting us know about the exhibit.

Trophywife007 Sep 8th, 2022 07:41 AM

I happily received the email on this today and I was wondering if anyone would know what the "Vermeer EYCA" ticket was or the "Vermeer - City Card, Go City" was. I'm thinking of doing the "becoming a friend" option.

jubilada Sep 8th, 2022 07:45 AM

This is very exciting.
might be a GTG opportunity since so much interest.

amyb Oct 8th, 2022 10:30 AM

So it turns out one of the D.C. Vermeers isn’t in fact a Vermeer. I’ve never really thought it was, but… Link here
I’d confirmed with one of the Rijksmuseum art historians that all 4 D.C. Vermeers would be in the Rijksmuseum show, now I wonder… He’s traveling in the US now so I’ll reach out to him when he returns to see what the word is.


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