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Home>Exhibitions>Past>2017>Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry

# Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry

October 22, 2017 – January 21, 2018West Building, Main Floor, Northeast Galleries

Johannes Vermeer, *Woman Holding a Balance*, c. 1664, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Widener Collection

**This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.**

**Go to our current Vermeer exhibition*.***

This landmark exhibition examines the artistic exchanges among Johannes Vermeer and his contemporaries from the mid-1650s to around 1680, when they reached the height of their technical ability and mastery of genre painting, or depictions of daily life. The introduction of quiet scenes unfolding in private household spaces and featuring elegant ladies and gentlemen was among the most striking innovations of Dutch painting of the Golden Age, a time of unparalleled innovation and prosperity. The exhibition brings together nearly 70 works by Vermeer and his fellow painters, including Gerard ter Borch, Gerrit Dou, Pieter de Hooch, Gabriel Metsu, Frans van Mieris, Caspar Netscher, and Jan Steen, who lived in various towns throughout the Dutch Republic, from Delft and Deventer to Amsterdam and Leiden. Juxtaposing paintings related by theme, motif, and composition, the exhibition explores how these artists inspired, rivaled, surpassed, and pushed each other to greater artistic achievement. The exhibition features 10 paintings by Vermeer (many of which have not been seen in the United States since the Gallery’s 1995–1996 exhibition *Johannes Vermeer*), including *The Lacemaker* (c. 1669–1670, Musée du Louvre, Paris) and *The Love Letter *(c. 1669–1670, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam). A fully illustrated catalog features essays by the curators and essays and entries by a team of international scholars.

This exhibition is curated by Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., curator of northern baroque paintings, National Gallery of Art, Washington; Dr. Adriaan Waiboer, head of collections and research, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin; and Blaise Ducos, curator of Dutch and Flemish paintings, Musée du Louvre, Paris.

#VermeerDC

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Johannes Vermeer, *The Lacemaker*, c. 1670–1671, oil on canvas on panel, Musée du Louvre, Département des peintures, Paris, Acquired in 1870

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Gabriel Metsu, *Man Writing a Letter*, c. 1664–1666, oil on panel, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Sir Alfred and Lady Beit, 1987 (Beit Collection)

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Gabriel Metsu, *Woman Reading a Letter*, c. 1664–1666, oil on panel, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Sir Alfred and Lady Beit, 1987 (Beit Collection)

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Johannes Vermeer, *A Lady Writing*, c. 1665-1667, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Harry Waldron Havemeyer and Horace Havemeyer, Jr, in memory of their father, Horace Havemeyer

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Johannes Vermeer, *The Love Letter*, c. 1669-1670, oil on canvas, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Gerrit Dou, *Woman at the Clavichord*, c. 1665, oil on panel, By Permission of the Trustees of Dulwich Picture Gallery, London

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Gerard ter Borch, *Lady at Her Toilet*, c. 1660, oil on canvas, Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Eleanor Clay Ford Fund, General Membership Fund, Endowment Income Fund and Special Activities Fund

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Caspar Netscher, *Woman Feeding a Parrot, with a Page*, 1666, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Gabriel Metsu, *The Intruder,* c. 1659–1662, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Andrew W. Mellon Collection

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Gerard ter Borch, *The Suitor’s Visit*, c. 1658, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Andrew W. Mellon Collection

Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
Johannes Vermeer, *The Astronomer,* 1668, oil on canvas, Musée du Louvre, Paris, Département des peintures, Acquired by "dation" in 1982.  Photo © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée du Louvre)/Franck Raux

**Organization:** Organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, and the Musée du Louvre, Paris.

**Sponsors:**BP is proud to be a major sponsor of this exhibition as part of its support of the arts in the U.S. and U.K. The exhibition is also generously supported by the Hata Foundation, Dr. Mihael and Mrs. Mahy Polymeropoulos, and The Exhibition Circle of the National Gallery of Art.

The exhibition in Washington is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

**Attendance:** 266,427

**Catalog:**Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting. By Adriaan Waiboer, et al. Dublin, National Gallery of Ireland, 2017.

**Brochure:**Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry, by Alexandra Libby. Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 2017. 

**Other venues:** Musée du Louvre, Paris, February 22–May 22, 2017National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, June 17–September 17, 2017

Introduction to the exhibitionVideo (83:44 minutes)

Research: Connect Vermeer

Research: *In Depth*: Themes and Ideas in Dutch Genre Painting

Online Editions: Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century

Education: Painting in the Dutch Golden Age (PDF 6.7MB)

Press Release

Exhibition Checklist

                    - Gabriel Metsu
                    - The Intruder
                    - c. 1660
                    - Gerard ter Borch the Younger
                    - The Suitor's Visit
                    - c. 1658
                    - Johannes Vermeer
                    - A Lady Writing
                    - c. 1665
                    - Caspar Netscher
                    - A Woman Feeding a Parrot, with a Page
                    - 1666
                    - Johannes Vermeer
                    - Woman Holding a Balance
                    - c. 1664

                    - Bega, Cornelis
                    - Dutch , 1631 - 1664
                    - Borch the Younger, Gerard ter
                    - Dutch , 1617 - 1681
                    - Dou, Gerrit
                    - Dutch , 1613 - 1675
                    - Hooch, Pieter de
                    - Dutch , 1629 - 1684
                    - Metsu, Gabriel
                    - Dutch , 1629 - 1667
                    - Mieris, Frans van
                    - Dutch , 1635 - 1681
                    - Netscher, Caspar
                    - Dutch , 1639 - 1684
                    - Ochtervelt, Jacob
                    - Dutch , 1634 - 1682
                    - Steen, Jan
                    - Dutch , 1625 - 1679
                    - Vermeer, Johannes
                    - Dutch , 1632 - 1675

SlideshowGerrit Dou: Master Painter in the Age of Rembrandt

SlideshowRevisiting Vermeer: The 20th Anniversary of the 1995 Blockbuster Exhibition at the National Gallery of Art

SlideshowJohannes Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balance

SlideshowGerard ter Borch

Audio*The Girl with a Pearl Earring: The Making of an Icon*Released: July 1, 2014, (50:34 minutes)

Audio *Meeting Metsu: ANOTHER Dutch Master* Released: June 7, 2011, (65:40 minutes)

Audio*Gabriel Metsu, 1629-1667*Released: May 3, 2011, (16:34 minutes)

Audio*Dutch Paintings at the National Gallery of Art: The Untold Stories behind the Acquisitions of the Rembrandts, Vermeers, and Other Treasures in the Collection*Released: January 18, 2011, (75:00 minutes)

AudioThe Vermeer Phenomenon, Part IReleased: October 10, 2017, (43:47 minutes) 

AudioThe Vermeer Phenomenon, Part IIReleased: October 10, 2017, (9:39 minutes)

Video *Vermeer: In the Light of Delft*Released: September 28, 2010, (6:28 minutes)

Video*Vermeer: Master of Light-Woman Holding a Balance, Part 1*Released: December 16, 2008, (3:59 minutes)

Video *Vermeer: Master of Light-The Music Lesson, Part 2*Released: January 20, 2009, (8:42 minutes)

Video *Vermeer: Master of Light-Girl with the Red Hat, Part 3*Released: March 3, 2009, (5:39 minutes)

Video*Vermeer: Master of Light-Camera Obscura, Part 4*Released: March 31, 2009, (1:42 minutes)

Video*Vermeer: Master of Light-Woman Writing a Letter, Part 5*Released: May 5, 2009, (2:43 minutes)

                  - Parrots and People in Dutch Genre Paintings: A Discussion with Dr. Irene Pepperberg on the Role of the African Grey Parrot in the 17th Century
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    April 3, 2018, (44:30 minutes)                                
                  - Striking the Right Chord: Seeing Music in Dutch Genre Painting
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (29:55 minutes)                                
                  - Innovation, Competition, and Fine Painting Technique: Marketing High-Life Style in the Dutch 17th Century
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (30:12 minutes)                                
                  - Virtuous Rivalry in the Age of Vermeer
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (47:47 minutes)                                
                  - Virtuous Rivalry in the Age of Vermeer
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (47:04 minutes)                                
                  - Pictures in Paintings 
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (45:00 minutes)                                
                  - Striking the Right Chord: Seeing Music in Dutch Genre Painting
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (30:33 minutes)                                
                  - Innovation, Competition, and Fine Painting Technique: Marketing High-Life Style in the Dutch 17th Century
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (44:54 minutes)                                
                  - Dutch burghers and their wine: Nary a sour grape
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (44:41 minutes)                                
                  - Pictures in Paintings 
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (45:52 minutes)                                
                  - Dutch burghers and their wine: Nary a sour grape
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    February 6, 2018, (43:54 minutes)                                
                  - Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: New Insights and Discoveries
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    January 30, 2018, (70:03 minutes)                                
                  - Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: New Insights and Discoveries
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    January 23, 2018, (70:03 minutes)                                
                  - Johannes Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    January 16, 2018, (10:34 minutes)                                
                  - More than Mimicry: The Parrot in Dutch Genre Painting 
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    January 9, 2018, (50:30 minutes)                                
                  - Time and Temporality in Seventeenth-Century Genre Painting
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    January 9, 2018, (33:05 minutes)                                
                  - More than Mimicry: The Parrot in Dutch Genre Painting 
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    January 9, 2018, (43:13 minutes)                                
                  - Time and Temporality in Seventeenth-Century Genre Painting
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    January 9, 2018, (34:13 minutes)                                
                  - Introduction to the Exhibition—Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry 
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    November 7, 2017, (83:44 minutes)                                
                  - Introduction to the Exhibition—Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry 
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    October 31, 2017, (83:44 minutes)                                
                  - Press Event: Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    October 17, 2017, (18:48 minutes)                                
                  - Opening soon: Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry
                  -                                     Video, Released:                                    September 26, 2017, (00:15 minutes)                                

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