1. 30 | ACCESS | AUTUMN 2016
Arts & Entertainment
It is apt to welcome various 17th-century Dutch
­paintings from the British Royal Collection back to
their country of origin – the largest recorded loan to
a Dutch museum to date. Art alliances such as these
can only continue to strengthen and promote the
continent’s cultural sphere and ­further the collabora-
tion of art institutions.
Queen’s collection, plus one
It is important to note that At Home in Holland was
showcased earlier this year at The Queen’s Gallery
in Buckingham Palace in London, initially under a
different name, Masters of the Everyday: Dutch Artists
in the Age of Vermeer. The adapted name, At Home in
Holland: Vermeer and his Contemporaries is pertinent
since it suggests the works have returned ‘home’,
having been painted by Dutch artists.
Moreover, ‘home’ is a metaphor carried out not
only through the title of the exhibition but also
within the subject matter of these 22 works, portray-
ing scenes from everyday life during that time period.
One painting titled The Young Mother by Gerrit Dou,
owned by the Mauritshuis, has also been added to
those on loan from the British Royal Collection.
Always a favourite
Critics deem Johannes Vermeer’s The Music Lesson
(1662 – 1665) the highlight of the exhibition and one
can clearly see why. Firstly, this is very rare piece by
Vermeer and one of only 36 of his works still in exist-
ence. Here we also see Vermeer’s utter skill for per-
spective. In the painting, a young woman is being
taught to play the virginal (harpsichord keyboard
instrument) at the far wall of a room with her teacher
by her side. Various objects in the room add a sense
of depth and offer layers of meaning to what at first
glance appears to be a simple, albeit highly detailed
scene―a striking contrast which makes for fascinating
viewing.
Although the single Vermeer in the collection
appears to take centre stage, other Dutch artists on
display equally deserve as much attention; Gerard ter
Vermeer and
contemporaries
come home
Home and everyday life are central themes
of the At Home in Holland exhibition taking
place at the Mauritshuis this autumn.
BY ELIZABETH JOSS
PHOTO:HERMAJESTYQUEENELIZABETHII2016

2. ACCESS | AUTUMN 2016 | 31
Borch, Pieter de Hooch, Gabriël Metsu, Gerrit Dou,
Jan Steen, Godfried Schalcken, Adriaen van Ostade,
Hendrick Pot, Ludolf de Jongh, Willem van Mieris and
Frans van Mieris de Oude are all represented here.
Hidden histories
Wendy Fossen of Casa dell’Arte is an art historian
who shows groups around the Mauritshuis.
She stresses the intricacies of the artworks and
the uniqueness of each piece, despite a golden
thread linking them. Within these artworks one
observes honesty and an appreciation for simplicity.
For example, Gerrit Dou’s A Girl chopping Onions
(1646, pictured left), or Pieter de Hooch’s Card Players
in a sunlit Room (1658) depict seemingly simple
chores and activities. Yet there is an important sym-
bolic and technical aspect in each, which Wendy
urges viewers to examine.
Jan Steen’s work, Woman at her Toilet (1663, pictured
right), is a painting of a woman getting ready for
bed with her bare legs exposed. It is one of Fossen’s
favourite paintings. She says, “The exquisite décor
and architecture comprising classical columns frame
the ­subject matter beautifully and offer us a glimpse
of very private scene.”
In addition, the accessories around the woman are
not placed by accident. Quentin Buvelot, curator of
the exhibition and co-author of Masters of the Everyday:
Dutch Artists in the Age of Vermeer, informs viewers that
“…the sunflower represents constancy in love, the
cherub earthly love. The amorous context of the
scene is made explicit by the woman’s actions and
the slippers that have fallen conspicuously to the
floor. Shoes and stockings both held an erotic charge
for the seventeenth-century viewer.” Such tidbits of
information cannot be garnered by merely glancing
at the works but by a more in-depth study of the his-
torical context.
All-in-all, the works comprising At Home in Holland
offer us curious scenes of everyday life during the
time of Vermeer. Expect everything from affluent
interiors to the humble life of farm folk. Each work
offering supreme skill, and layers of meaning wait-
ing to be unraveled.
Visit Vermeer and his contemporaries
At Home in Holland: Vermeer and his Contemporaries from
the British Royal Collection
On exhibit from 29 September, 2016, to 8 January,
2017. Multi-media tour available in English.
Adults €14; Youth 19 and under free. Museum Card
holders free. Check website for opening hours, plus
suggested times for when to avoid crowds.
Mauritshuis, Plein 29, 2511 CS The Hague
www.mauritshuis.nl/en «
About the author
Elizabeth Joss is a South African freelance writer based in The Hague and the founder of
The Museum Times, to spread the love of museums and arts and culture on a global scale.
www.themuseumtimes.com
She stresses the intricacies … and
the uniqueness of each piece, despite
a golden thread linking them.
PHOTOS:HERMAJESTYQUEENELIZABETHII2016