Johannes Vermeer
A Young Woman seated at a Virginal
about 1670-2
National Gallery, London
Vermeer and Music at the National Gallery, London The exhibition ‘Vermeer and Music: The Art of Love and Leisure’ explores the concept of music as one the most popular motifs in Dutch painting. National Gallery, London, 26 June – 8 September 2013.]]>
Source: National Gallery, London
The exhibition aims to enhance viewers’ appreciation of some of the most beautiful and evocative paintings by Johannes Vermeer and his contemporaries, by juxtaposing them with musical instruments and songbooks of the period. Visitors to the show are able to compare 17th-century virginals, lutes, guitars, and other instruments with the paintings themselves to judge the accuracy of the depictions, and understand the artistic liberties the painters might have taken. Three days a week visitors can experience live performances in the exhibition space by the Academy of Ancient Music.
The centrepiece of the exhibition are three masterworks by Johannes Vermeer portraying female musicians, brought together for the first time in this exhibition. The National Gallery’s two paintings by the artist, “A Young Woman seated at a Virginal” and “A Young Woman standing at a Virginal”, are joined by “The Guitar Player”, an important loan from the Iveagh Bequest in Kenwood House. “The Music Lesson”, on loan from Her Majesty the Queen, is also exhibited.
Music carried many diverse associations in 17th-century Dutch painting. In portraits, a musical instrument or songbook might suggest the talent or sophistication of the sitter. In still lifes or scenes of everyday life, it might act as a metaphor for harmony, a symbol of transience or an indicator of education and position in society.
The fascinating depictions of domestic musical performances in ‘Vermeer and Music: The Art of Love and Leisure’ range from contemplative images of single musicians to lively concerts and amorous encounters between music-master and pupil. In addition to works by Vermeer, the exhibition includes paintings by Jan Steen, Pieter de Hooch, Gerard ter Borch, Gabriel Metsu, and Godfried Schalcken.
Related content
The Young Vermeer, National Galleries of Scotland (exhibition, 2011)
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