AUTHENTICITY There are thirty-four paintings which modern scholars overwhelmingly agree should be attributed to Johannes Vermeer of Delft.
Three works are included in this catalogue which have not received unanimous acceptance: Saint Praxedis, Girl with a Flute and A Young Woman Seated at the Virginals (the latter not to be confused with the London National Gallery picture of similar title and motif).
1. Since only Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. currently defends the Saint Praxedis as an authentic work by Vermeer, it has been listed in an appendix as work "A."
2. The Girl with a Flute is currently rejected by Albert Blankert and Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. who ascribes it as "attributed to Johannes Vermeer." Most all other scholars accept it as authentic. It is accepted as no. 25 in the Essential Vermeer catalogue.
3. A Young Woman Seated at the Virginals (again, not to be confused with the London National Gallery picture of similar name and motif) has been recently accepted by the leading Vermeer expert Walter Liedtke and included it in his Vermeer: The Complete Catalogue of 2008 (no. 36). Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. and Wayne Franits have also accepted it as authentic.
Nonetheless, the lack of open scholarly discussion regarding this work has encouraged the author of this site to label this work as questionable. Current acceptance is largely based in scientific evidence. It has been listed in an appendix as work "B."s
DATING Since only three Vermeer's paintings were dated by his own hand, the dates of each picture proposed in the Essential Vermeer catalogue covers the range of those estimated by four authoritative scholars of Dutch art and Vermeer: Albert Blankert (Vermeer: 1632–1675, 1975), Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. (The Public and the Private in the Age of Vermeer, 2000), Walter Liedtke (Vermeer: The Complete Catalogue, 2008) and Wayne Franits (Vermeer, 2015). Catalogue numbers were calculated by averaging their total estimates.
For a complete table of estimated dates, click here.
TITLES Over the years, scholars and museums have given a number of titles to each of Vermeer's paintings. For the sake of uniformity, the titles used in this catalogue are those found in Arthur K. Wheelock's Vermeer and the Art of Painting (pp. 169–186).
VISITING THE REAL PAINTINGS Although digital imaging technology as applied to works of art has reached unparalleled levels of sophistication, experiencing a real painting cannot be adequately duplicated by such means. For this reason the author of this website strongly encourages readers to visit the works which interest him most whenever it is possible. Nonetheless, due to the Covid-19 crisis, the great part of art collections where the works by Vermeer are housed are currently closed to the public. Please note that the information regarding reopening times are given below for each painting. Every attempt will be made to update this information as it changes, but before making traveling plans, the museums should be contacted directly.
11
c. 1659–1662
Oil on canvas
78 x 67 cm. (30 3/4 x 26 3/8 in.)
Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig (Brunswick)
museum contact
The museum is currently open to the public, although the number of visitors to the museum building is limited due to the currently applicable hygiene regulations. Visitors are asked to continue to wear medical mouth and nose protection or an FFP2 mask in the museum. Children up to 6 years of age are exempt from the mask requirement. So-called everyday masks (cloth masks) are also allowed up to and including 12 years of age. If a visitor cannot wear a mask for health reasons, he or she must provide a certificate. Visitors must keep a distance of 1.5 m from other people.
Johannes Vermeer. On Reflection
Due to a current COVID-10 crisis, the Vermeer: On Reflection exhibit and the Old Master Pictures Gallery in Dresden will be closed from Monday, 22 November, until 12 December 2021..
28
c. 1668–1669
Oil on canvas
53 x 46.6 cm. (20 7/8 x 18 1/4 in.)
Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
museum contact
The museum is currently open. If possible, a time slot ticket should be purchased online before visiting . If this is not possible, one can register at the ticket office on site, provided that there is still enough space available. In the museum, the distance rule of at least 1.5 meters and the sneeze and cough label must be observed. A medical mask (FFP2 or surgical mask) must be worn over the mouth and nose. This can be brought along or purchased at the cash desk.
Johannes Vermeer. On Reflection
Due to a current COVID-10 crisis, the Vermeer: On Reflection exhibit and the Old Master Pictures Gallery in Dresden will be closed from Monday, 22 November, until 12 December 2021.
34
c. 1670–1675
Oil on canvas
51.5 x 45.5 cm. (20 1/4 x 17 7/8 in.)
National Gallery, London
email contact
The Gallery is currently open with restrictions. with added social distancing, one-way art routes and a contactless experience. All must wear a face covering during your visit unless they are exempt; this is in line with government guidelines. In line with government guidelines, all visitors need to register their visit with NHS Test and Trace upon arrival by scanning the QR code or by giving their details to a member of staff. In order to manage the number of people in the Gallery, tickets must be booked in advance.
temporary exhibition :
Masterpieces from the National Gallery
National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
June 18–October 18, 2020
second venue:
National Museum of Art, Osaka
November 3, 2020–January 31, 2021
A.
1655
Oil on canvas
101.6 x 82.6 cm. (40 x 32 1/2 in.)
National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
Closed. Opening expected Spring 2022.
temporary loan:
The Saint Praxedis was auctioned at Christie's on July 8, 2014 to an unknown buyer. It is currently loaned to the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo
and is displayed as a work "attributed to" Johannes Vermeer.
New Works in Permanent Collection Building
National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo (from March 17, 2015)
see also : Old Master & British Paintings Evening Sale
